Triton XIX, Lot: 517. Estimate $7500. Sold for $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Titus. AD 79-81. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.19 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 1 January-30 June AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head left / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, female(?) African elephant standing left. RIC II –; Calicó 776; BMCRE –; Biaggi 376. VF. Rare variety with Titus’ head left.

The elephant on the reverse appears to be a female with teats depicted by the celator. African female elephants do have large tusks while their counterparts from the Asian species (Elephas maximus) have very small tusks or none at all.