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RIC 037 Titus
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AR Denarius, 3.33g
Rome mint, 79 AD
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P VIIII IMP XV COS VII P P; Capricorn l., below, globe
RIC 37 (R). BMC 35. RSC 294. BNC 32.
Ex eBay, March 2012.
This denarius is part of the 3rd issue minted by Titus in 79 after September when he was awarded IMP XV. This same type was reportedly found in the ruins of Pompeii casting doubt on the traditional dating of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius to August*. The same reverse type was minted by Vespasian just before his death and is itself a copy of a type minted by Augustus. Denarii from the 3rd issue seem to be rarer than those of the 2nd issue.
Reasonably centred in good metal with a typical 'bull necked' portrait of Titus. Both an obverse and reverse die match to the RIC plate coin.
*Dr. Richard Abdy of the British Museum has examined the coin in question and concluded the reading is actually IMP XIIII.
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