Titus RIC II 0001

Titus. 79-81 A.D. AR Denarius. Rome Mint. 24 June-1 July 79 A.D. (3.19g, 19.5m, 6h). Obv: IMP T CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. Rev: TR POT VIII COS VII, Trophy, below, captive kneeling right. RIC II 1 (R), RSC 334a, BMC 1.

Titus’ accession was never in doubt, and this first issue was produced in a narrow window of mere days between Vespasian’s death and Titus taking TRPVIIII copying a design Titus used as Caesar (RIC II V1076). This type likely reminds his fellow Romans of Titus’ victory against the Jews.