CNG 96, Lot: 772. Estimate $10000. Sold for $9500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Titus. AD 79-81. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.30 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck 1 January-30 June AD 80. IMP TITVS CΛES VESPΛSIΛN ΛVG P M, laureate head right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, pulvinar (throne), draped with cloth with tassels hanging in folds; above, arched frame containing five crescent-like objects over triangular frame. RIC II 121 var. (three crescent-like ornaments on throne); Calicó 781 var. (same); BMCRE 57 var. (same); BN 46 var. (same); Biaggi –. Good VF, attractively toned, traces of deposits, a few minor marks on reverse. Well centered. A noteworthy variety with the arched throne back re-engraved over a triangular frame only known on denarii.

This series of aurei and denarii featuring a throne on the reverse has two general varieties, based on the style of the back frame of the throne. One variety has a curved back (RIC II 121–3; see lot 775, below), while the other has a triangular back (RIC II 124–5). The former is known on aurei and denarii, while the latter is only known on denarii. However, the reverse of the present coin was struck with a die that was originally engraved with a triangular back. This is also indicated by the five of crescent-like ornaments on the throne back. The curved variety always has only three ornaments, while the triangular variety has five or more. What is uncertain is the implication of this re-engraved die; is it indicative of a heretofore unknown issue of aurei for the second variety, was it an error by a die engraver who had made dies for denarii of the second type and mistakenly engraved the aureus die with a triangular back, or is this coin struck with a die that was originally used for denarii of the second variety that was re-engraved for use on aurei?