Naville Numismatics Ltd.
Auction 41 24 Jun 2018
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Titus Caesar, 69-79 Sestertius circa 72, Æ 32.8mm., 25.97g. Laureate head r. Rev. IVDAEA – CAPTA Jewess seated r. on cuirass under palm-tree in attitude of mourning. Behind, palm- tree, Emperor standing r. with l. foot on helmet, holding spear and parazonium; in exergue, S C. RIC Vespasian 422. BMC Vespasian 631. C 113. CBN Vespasian 618.
Rare, attractive dark green patina, gently smoothed and somewhat tooled, otherwise Good Very Fine.
Most Flavian Judaea Capta issues depict the people of Judaea as defeated, humiliated and absorbed in a state of mourning. The same cannot be said for this impressive and rare sestertius, which conveys a different message, the precise meaning of which is open to interpretation: are the figures greeting Titus as a savior, or are they beseeching him to behave mercifully? Titus was wearing a radiate crown, is shown in a triumphant, militant pose, places his foot on the prow of a gallery and holds an inverted spear and a Victory upon a globe. His statuesque appearance is a foil to the fluid gesticulations of the other two figures. A Jew kneels before Titus in an attitude of supplication, and the personification of Judaea rushes toward Titus, offering a branch as an emblem of peace. This juxtaposition communicates something powerful to the viewer, but what? Is the Jew beginning for mercy or expressing gratitude for having been generously received back into the Roman yoke? Is Judaea praising Titus for his victory, or is she merely offering felicitations to her new master? Absolute answers to such questions do not exist, as the design is sufficiently ambiguous to permit either interpretation. What we can say with certain is that this coin is of tremendous artistic value: both dies are the work of a master engraver whose skills were perhaps more often applied to dies intended to stike aurei.
Rare, attractive dark green patina, gently smoothed and somewhat tooled, otherwise Good Very Fine.
Most Flavian Judaea Capta issues depict the people of Judaea as defeated, humiliated and absorbed in a state of mourning. The same cannot be said for this impressive and rare sestertius, which conveys a different message, the precise meaning of which is open to interpretation: are the figures greeting Titus as a savior, or are they beseeching him to behave mercifully? Titus was wearing a radiate crown, is shown in a triumphant, militant pose, places his foot on the prow of a gallery and holds an inverted spear and a Victory upon a globe. His statuesque appearance is a foil to the fluid gesticulations of the other two figures. A Jew kneels before Titus in an attitude of supplication, and the personification of Judaea rushes toward Titus, offering a branch as an emblem of peace. This juxtaposition communicates something powerful to the viewer, but what? Is the Jew beginning for mercy or expressing gratitude for having been generously received back into the Roman yoke? Is Judaea praising Titus for his victory, or is she merely offering felicitations to her new master? Absolute answers to such questions do not exist, as the design is sufficiently ambiguous to permit either interpretation. What we can say with certain is that this coin is of tremendous artistic value: both dies are the work of a master engraver whose skills were perhaps more often applied to dies intended to stike aurei.