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RIC 035 Titus
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AR Denarius, 3.20g
Rome mint, 79 AD
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M.; Head of Titus, Laureate, bearded, l.
Rev: TR P VIIII IMP XIIII COS VII P P; Venus stg. r. leaning on column, with helmet and spear
RIC 35 (R). BMC 11. RSC 268a. BNC -.
Ex CNG E358, 26 August 2015, lot 323.
Titus' 14th imperial acclamation dates between 1 July to at least before 8 September 79 as two documents indicate - one a letter Titus addressed to the city of Munigua on 7 September, and the other a military diploma dated 8 September, both still show him as IMP XIIII. Effectively, this coin was struck during the time of the Mount Vesuvius eruption on 24 August, although the traditional date of the disaster is now disputed and may possibly have been later in the year.
Left facing portraits of Titus are much rarer than right facing, perhaps to a ratio of 1:10. This left facing Venus type from the second issue after 1 July is extremely difficult to find. Listed simply as 'rare' by the new RIC, this is perhaps one of those types which might be a bit rarer than the rating indicates.
Somewhat worn, but nicely centered and in fine style. I've noticed over the years that those denarii of Titus with dots in the legend tend to be of a finer style, such as this coin.
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