|
|
RIC 0872 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
|
AR Denarius, 3.10g
Rome Mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: COS V across field; Eagle head l. standing on thunderbolt, on Altar. Very uncommon with thunderbolt showing.
RIC 872 (C). BMC 192. RSC 60. BNC 168.
Acquired from Incitatus Coins April 2008.
A mysterious reverse type struck for Titus Caesar and Vespasian in 76. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II hints that it might be a reference to the death of Mucianus which occurred that year. Mucianus was the governor of Syria who helped Vespasian rise to the purple. The interpretation here would be the eagle as a symbol of the after-life. I've always had my doubts about Mattingly's reading. The eagle when depicted on a funeral pyre or altar is an apotheosis type, here there is no such pyre or altar. The eagle sits upon a garlanded base, clutching a thunderbolt (missing on this specimen), with no legend referring to the eagle specifically. The following are the three main symbolic meanings of the eagle in the Roman world: as an attribute of Jupiter, a symbol of the Roman legions, a funerary type. In the case of the above coin, my guess would be the eagle is in the guise of Jupiter since a thunderbolt is clutched.
Variant version missing the thunderbolt.
|
|
![RIC 0872 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.10g
Rome Mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: COS V across field; Eagle head l. standing on thunderbolt, on Altar. Very uncommon with thunderbolt showing.
RIC 872 (C). BMC 192. RSC 60. BNC 168.
Acquired from Incitatus Coins April 2008.
A mysterious reverse type struck for Titus Caesar and Vespasian in 76. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II hints that it might be a reference to the death of Mucianus which occurred that year. Mucianus was the governor of Syria who helped Vespasian rise to the purple. The interpretation here would be the eagle as a symbol of the after-life. I've always had my doubts about Mattingly's reading. The eagle when depicted on a funeral pyre or altar is an apotheosis type, here there is no such pyre or altar. The eagle sits upon a garlanded base, clutching a thunderbolt (missing on this specimen), with no legend referring to the eagle specifically. The following are the three main symbolic meanings of the eagle in the Roman world: as an attribute of Jupiter, a symbol of the Roman legions, a funerary type. In the case of the above coin, my guess would be the eagle is in the guise of Jupiter since a thunderbolt is clutched.
Variant version missing the thunderbolt.](albums/userpics/11162/titus%20as%20caesar%20eagle%20l.%20and%20base.jpg "RIC 0872 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.10g
Rome Mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: COS V across field; Eagle head l. standing on thunderbolt, on Altar. Very uncommon with thunderbolt showing.
RIC 872 (C). BMC 192. RSC 60. BNC 168.
Acquired from Incitatus Coins April 2008.
A mysterious reverse type struck for Titus Caesar and Vespasian in 76. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II hints that it might be a reference to the death of Mucianus which occurred that year. Mucianus was the governor of Syria who helped Vespasian rise to the purple. The interpretation here would be the eagle as a symbol of the after-life. I've always had my doubts about Mattingly's reading. The eagle when depicted on a funeral pyre or altar is an apotheosis type, here there is no such pyre or altar. The eagle sits upon a garlanded base, clutching a thunderbolt (missing on this specimen), with no legend referring to the eagle specifically. The following are the three main symbolic meanings of the eagle in the Roman world: as an attribute of Jupiter, a symbol of the Roman legions, a funerary type. In the case of the above coin, my guess would be the eagle is in the guise of Jupiter since a thunderbolt is clutched.
Variant version missing the thunderbolt.")
