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Roman Empire. Titus caesar, 69–79. Sestertius 77-78, Æ 26.41g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:28,000.00 CHF Estimated At:35,000.00 CHF
Roman Empire. Titus caesar, 69–79. Sestertius 77-78, Æ 26.41g.
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The Roman Empire. Titus caesar, 69–79. Sestertius 77-78, Æ 26.41g. T CENS VESPASIAN IMP PONT TR POT COS VI Laureate head r. Rev. ANNONA AVGVST S–C Annona seated l. holding sack of corn ears in r. hand and resting l. arm on stool. C 19. BMC p. 175 note *. RIC 1021 (this coin illustrated). CBN 781 var. Very rare and among the finest sestertii of Titus in existence. A magnificent and finely detailed portrait of superb style struck in high relief. Light brown patina and good extremely fine / extremely fine. Ex Lanz sale 94, 1999, Leo Benz, 351. From the Luc Girard collection. For someone who died at the relatively early age of 41, Titus accomplished a great amount in a short period. Even from a young age, when he counted Britannicus, the ill-fated son of Claudius, among his best friends, Titus was recognized as having potential. Suetonius (Titus 2) tells us that "…when one day Claudius’ freedman Narcissus called in a physiognomist to examine Britannicus’ features and prophesy his future, he was told most emphatically that Britannicus would never succeed his father, whereas Titus (who happened to be present) would achieve that distinction". Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the siege of Jerusalem in the First Jewish Revolt, a remarkable task of engineering genius and perseverance that he orchestrated personally. Upon returning to Rome his contributions to the empire were not quite so spectacular, but were even more valuable. For nearly a decade before he became emperor in 79, Titus was the backbone of his father’s administration. When he became emperor his popularity rose, and though he was privileged to dedicate the Colosseum., the also had to deal with the terrible consequences from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.