Titus. Dupondius

Titus; 79-81 AD, ca. 80-1 AD, Dupondius, 13.34g. Obv: IMP T CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII, Radiate head r. Rx: PON MAX-TR POT P P COS V CENS, Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopias. Ex HJB BBS225, Oct. 2023, lot 98; Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection; Ex Dorotheum 497, May 2003, lot 91; McAlee-389A (this coin). An interesting new error, possibly unique, joining an obverse of Titus in 80-1 AD with a reverse of Vespasian in 74. Also apparently from a new subsidiary mint.

This coin seems to come from a hitherto unrecognized small non-Roman issue, presumably struck in Thrace, Asia Minor, or Syria, or in Rome for use elsewhere. This coin uses a different obverse legend than the uncertain Thracian mint, namely IMP T CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII, but copies its reverse type from dupondii of Vespasian dated six years earlier, with legend PON MAX TR POT P P COS V CENS. There is no parallel at the uncertain Thracian mint for the use of such old or misdated reverse dies, suggesting that our two new types were struck at a different mint.. Good VF