RIC 245 Titus Variant

Æ As, 9.35g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: SECVRITAS AVGVST; S C in exergue; Securitas std. l., with sceptre; to l., altar
RIC 245 var. (head left). BMC -. BNC -.
Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 112. Ex Roman-num, eBay, 21 June 2009.

An unlisted variant of this extremely rare type for Titus, struck in 80-81 during his great bronze issue. RIC cites one specimen with head left (RIC 245), mine features the less common and unlisted head right. Astonishingly, a second head right example was listed in the same HJB sale from the Clay collection (lot 111), so a frequency rating of R2. The RIC II.1 Addenda questions whether this type actually reads SECVRIT or SECVRITAS. Both specimens in the HJB sale clearly show SECVRITAS. The Securitas type was likely issued as numismatic 'comfort food' for the Roman public, a reassurance of the continued status quo from Vespasian's reign.