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RIC 1483 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
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AR Denarius, 3.33g
Ephesus (?) mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESP CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r., 'o' mint mark below neck
Rev: COS V; Bull, stg. r.
RIC 1483n (R2, this coin). BMC 486. RSC 56. RPC 1458 (3 spec.). BNC 374.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 583. Ex Harry N Sneh Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 142, 10 October 2005, lot 2398.
The infamous 'o' mint denarii (the 'o' is often not visible but is quite bold on this specimen!) struck for Vespasian, Titus Caesar, and Domitian Caesar are thought to have been minted at Ephesus due to a similar 'o' mint mark previously used at that mint. The types are the same as those struck somewhat contemporaneously at Rome. Mules are a hallmark of the series, perhaps indicating a lack of care in their production. This bull reverse copies a much more common Rome mint 'Cow of Myron' proto-type. The exact sex of the bovine is in doubt - some catalogues call it a cow, others a bull. RIC also makes a distinction between 'humped' and 'non-humped' bulls and uses the above coin in the plates to illustrate the 'non-humped' variant. Very rare, only a handful of specimens known.
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![RIC 1483 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.33g
Ephesus (?) mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESP CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r., 'o' mint mark below neck
Rev: COS V; Bull, stg. r.
RIC 1483n (R2, this coin). BMC 486. RSC 56. RPC 1458 (3 spec.). BNC 374.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 583. Ex Harry N Sneh Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 142, 10 October 2005, lot 2398.
The infamous 'o' mint denarii (the 'o' is often not visible but is quite bold on this specimen!) struck for Vespasian, Titus Caesar, and Domitian Caesar are thought to have been minted at Ephesus due to a similar 'o' mint mark previously used at that mint. The types are the same as those struck somewhat contemporaneously at Rome. Mules are a hallmark of the series, perhaps indicating a lack of care in their production. This bull reverse copies a much more common Rome mint 'Cow of Myron' proto-type. The exact sex of the bovine is in doubt - some catalogues call it a cow, others a bull. RIC also makes a distinction between 'humped' and 'non-humped' bulls and uses the above coin in the plates to illustrate the 'non-humped' variant. Very rare, only a handful of specimens known.](albums/userpics/11162/normal_V1483.jpg "Click to view full size image
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RIC 1483 Titus as Caesar [Vespasian]
AR Denarius, 3.33g
Ephesus (?) mint, 76 AD
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESP CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r., 'o' mint mark below neck
Rev: COS V; Bull, stg. r.
RIC 1483n (R2, this coin). BMC 486. RSC 56. RPC 1458 (3 spec.). BNC 374.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 583. Ex Harry N Sneh Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 142, 10 October 2005, lot 2398.
The infamous 'o' mint denarii (the 'o' is often not visible but is quite bold on this specimen!) struck for Vespasian, Titus Caesar, and Domitian Caesar are thought to have been minted at Ephesus due to a similar 'o' mint mark previously used at that mint. The types are the same as those struck somewhat contemporaneously at Rome. Mules are a hallmark of the series, perhaps indicating a lack of care in their production. This bull reverse copies a much more common Rome mint 'Cow of Myron' proto-type. The exact sex of the bovine is in doubt - some catalogues call it a cow, others a bull. RIC also makes a distinction between 'humped' and 'non-humped' bulls and uses the above coin in the plates to illustrate the 'non-humped' variant. Very rare, only a handful of specimens known.")
