I knew this was an extremely rare type for Titus Caesar (based on never seeing one in trade beforehand), but it wasn’t until I begun researching this coin that I fully realised the extent of its rarity. The RIC frequency rating is quite deceptive!
Mint mules under Vespasian between himself and Titus Caesar are not uncommon on the denarii due to frequently shared reverse types. But those between Vespasian or Titus and Domitian Caesar are unheard of. My latest coin happens to be one of those extraordinary mules.
Picture it: Italy, 79 AD, Friday afternoon at the Rome mint. A busy engraver works on a reverse die for Titus Caesar, all the while keeping a close eye on the sundial, eagerly awaiting quitting time. Alas! He makes a mistake! Will the a rationibus notice? Probably not. The engraver hurriedly turns in the error die unnoticed and makes his way to the wine bar to meet his mates. 2000 years later his mistake lives on …
I am a specialist in Flavian coins generally, but systematically collect the silver issues – especially those of Titus. I’ve almost completed that task, so it is quite thrilling to add one of the few coins I’m missing! Although it may not be much to look at, this worn and harshly cleaned piece is a minor gem, IMHO.
Although I collect all coins Flavian, I systematically collect the silver issues. So, I was quite thrilled to win several long sought after denarius ‘white whales’ at the recent NAC auction. The following coin was by far the most important of them all: A personal grail/white whale with the additional benefits of being a RIC plate coin and one of the finest specimens of the type known and previously owned by the renowned Flavian collector Harry Sneh.
Well, sort of. This latest arrival is a thick, chunky bronze with quite a bit of heft to it, which I suppose in a pinch could serve as a hockey puck. The photo really shows off the concave flan shape which was a Rome mint trademark.
There are only a handful of Titus denarii I’m missing from my collection, most of which are unique or extremely rare. Having an opportunity to acquire a scarce RIC plate coin such as this, is needless to say, a big deal!
Flavian Fanatic 