Titus Celebrates His Victories

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1430. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (27.28 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 72. Laureate head right / Titus on horseback right, spearing enemy. RIC II 613 (Vespasian). VF, brown patina, a few pits.

From the Alain Lagrange Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 46 (24 June 1998), lot 1211.

In July of 71, Titus was given the title of imperator and the tribunician power, thus elevating him to the rank of co-ruler with Vespasian. Altough the reference of the reverse type is not clear, it likely relates to Titus’ newly attained status or his victories in the Jewish War.