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RIC 0914 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
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Æ As, 11.03g
Rome mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP COS V; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l. with flower
RIC 914 (R). BMC 728. BNC -.
Acquired from eBay, April 2019.
A small issue of bronze was struck by the Rome mint in 76. The asses of this issue were produced on larger than normal flans (27-28mm) and at a slightly heavier weight. Surprisingly, this Spes type from 76 struck for Titus Caesar is fairly rare with many specimens sharing this coin's die combination. Spes was a fairly common reverse type of the dynasty and was likely copied from a well known cult statue. As the goddess of hope, she is the perfect 'heir apparent' personification for a future emperor. As Mattingly put it in BMCRE II - 'The flower is an opening bud, she is raising her skirt in order to hasten forward.'
Although the patina has been largely stripped away, the piece has a pleasingly rich coppery hue.
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