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RIC 131 Titus
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AR Denarius, 3.40g
Rome Mint, 80 AD
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod with fillets; above, ravens, l. and r., and dolphin over wreath
RIC 131 (R). BMC 82. RSC 323a. BNC 66.
Acquired from Beast Coins, April 2007.
This denarius was part of a series struck for the lectisternium (religious ceremony) celebrating the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD.
Each god had its own sacred couch, in latin they are known as 'pulvinaria', brought out in pairs, probably in the Forum. The coins in question commemorates the sacred couches which were set out with 'exuviae' (emblems) representing the gods. This example is most likely the 'pulvinar' of Apollo.
There are two different types of the Tripod reverse: The common one with just a dolphin above the Tripod, another with a wreath and ravens added. The Reka Devina hoard records 24 specimens of the more common type and only 3 of the raven/wreath variant. Cohen and the RIC do not have seperate listings for the scarce variant, the BMCRE and RSC do record it however.
Needless to say it took a bit longer for me to acquire this less common specimen, but it was worth the wait. Wonderfully centered with gunmetal toning.
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