TITUS AR DENARIUS - JUDAEA CAPTA
Hendin 6615, (GBC 5 - 1584), RIC 102, RSC 306, Good Fine / Very Fine, 17.8mm, 3.23 grams, Struck Circa. 80C.E. Rome Mint
Obverse: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M counterclockwise around laureate head of Titus to right
Reverse: Trophy of arms; at left, female captive seated to left in attitude of mourning; at right, bound male captive seated to right, TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P
Excellent reverse!
Hendin lists this as a Judaea Capta type and so do many catalogers, such as CNG, see a beauty here that sold for almost $4,300! Others see this coin as referring to victories of Agricola in Britian when Titus was proclaimed Imperator for the 15th time.
We like to take a realistic view, which is kind of a compromise. Overwhelmingly the military types of Titus were struck to commemorate the defeat of Judaea. Naturally, unless there was a very great commotion on the street of Agricola's accomplishment, many or most of the populace would have seen this coin as a continuation of the Judaea Capta series (especially as the Captas were struck both before and after this coin type. Surely, the mint and celators were aware of that. So, while this particular issue may have been prompted by a more recent victory, perhaps the coin can be viewed as commemorating the continued successes of Titus' war machine, victorious over both Judaea and Britian.
In summary, while this personally would not be my first choice as a type, if I was looking specifically for Judaea Capta, it is a compelling type to fill out a varied Judaea Capta collection.
