Affordable Colosseum Sestertius

271, Lot: 79. Estimate $1000. Sold for $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Titus. AD 79-81. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 24.99 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 80. RIC II 184; Elkins Type C, 6 (A4/P6); BMCRE 190; Küthmann & Overbeck 52; Cohen 400. Near Fine/Fair, tan-brown patina. Very rare and of great historical interest.

Property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong.

This sestertius offers a bird's eye view of the most famous landmark of ancient Rome. Construction on the Colosseum began in AD 71 during the reign of Vespasian, and dedication ceremonies were held in 75 after the completion of the first three stories. In 80, the remaining two stories were completed, and new dedication ceremonies were conducted in June, celebrated on this sestertius of Titus. Elkins, in his recent article on these pieces, argues that they were commemorative pieces distributed by Imperial munificence at games held in the Colosseum.