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RIC 437 Drusus, Restored by Titus
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Æ As, 9.40g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N; Head of Drusus, bare, l.
Rev: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST; S C in centre
RIC 437 var. BMC 286 var. BNC 298 var.
Acquired from Aegean, May 2022.
Titus struck an extensive restoration series of bronze coins of Flavian approved past emperors and imperial family members which reproduced the original coins in their entirety. While this veneration of past coinages was not a new idea (Vespasian copied past types on many reverses for the precious metal issues) it was quite an innovation to copy both the obverse and reverse of these past coinages. To do so likely had a dual purpose - one, to recoin types that were being recalled or falling out of circulation and to keep their memory alive, and secondly to link the Flavian house with those past revered personages. The meaning is quite clear on the reverse with Titus declaring he has restored (REST) this coin. Drusus was the son of the emperor Tiberius. This coin faithfully reproduces a similar type struck for him under his father. Curtis Clay has observed "The rev. legend on restored bronzes of Titus generally starts at upper right if the type is merely S C surrounded by one or two lines of legend, but at lower left if an actual old reverse type is reproduced along with the regular S C." This as is one of those special variants that faithfully reproduces the old reverse type.
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