Watch List notes:

ROMAN AND BYZANTINE COINS

Titus, 79-81. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35mm, 29.78g 7), Rome, 80-81. IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII Laureate head of Titus to left. Rev. S - C Spes advancing to left, lifting up the hem of her robes with her left hand and holding a flower in her right. BMC 183-185. BN 174-175. Cohen 222. RIC 170. A superb coin with a fine portrait and an exceptionally attractive, deep greenish red patina. A sharp example, well struck on a broad flan an, unusually well preserved. Fields lightly cleaned, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From a specialized European collection.
This is not only an unusually fine sestertius of Titus, but is also one of the finest known examples of the type. The engraver who was responsible for this die was particularly skillful and depicted Spes in a most delicate way. Given the splendid portrait of Titus that appears on the obverse it is likely that the same master-engraver was responsible for both sides of the coin (often, following Roman mint practice, a less skillful engraver would have made the reverse die).