Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AV aureus (21mm, 7.46 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU S 4/5 - 3/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 76. T CAESAR IMP-VESPASIANVS•, laureate head of Titus right / AETER-NITAS, Aeternitas, draped, standing facing, veiled head left, heads of the Sun and Moon in right and left hands respectively; lighted altar at feet to left. RIC II.1 (Vespasian) 866. Calicó 723. An extraordinary example, with an outstanding portrait in high relief, and an elegant reverse. From the Monaco Collection. Ex Long Valley River Collection (Roma Numismatics, Auction XX, 29 October 2020), lot 576; Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 3037 NYINC, 5 January 2015), lot 30962; McLendon Collection (Christie's New York, 12 June 1993), lot 109 Flavius Titus Vespasianus was born in AD 41, the son of the successful general Vespasian. He grew into an intelligent, handsome, and charming young man, who became his father's second in command for the Judaean campaign of AD 66-69. When Nero's regime collapsed, Vespasian marched on Rome while Titus took over direction of the Judaean war, which culminated in the storming of Jerusalem in AD 70. Titus next served as Praetorian Prefect and was utterly ruthless in protecting his family's stranglehold on power. When Vespasian died, in AD 79, Titus was proclaimed emperor and he soon emerged as an uncommonly benevolent and conscientious ruler. When the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, and a major fire swept Rome months later, his generous relief measures won wide admiration. The historian Tacitus went so far as to call Titus the "darling of the human race." However, his reign was destined to be short: Only two years after his accession he fell ill and died on 1 September AD 80, at the age of 40. Perhaps he was fortunate in the brevity of his reign, for the string of natural disasters had emptied the treasury and storm clouds were gathering on the military front. His brother Domitian, capable but far less affable, succeeded him.

HID09801242017

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