Nomos 38

Titus, as Caesar, 69-79. Aureus (Gold, 20.5 mm, 7.19 g, 12 h), Rome, 73. T CAES IMP VESP CENS Laureate head of Titus to right. Rev. VES-TA Round temple-shrine of Vesta with four columns, a statue of Vesta within the central intercolumniation, and a flight of steps; to left and right of the temple, on the level of the floor, statue on base. Biaggi 386 var. BMC 120 (Vespasian). BN 98 var. (Vespasian). Cohen 348. Calicó 795. RIC 558 (Vespasian). Vagi 986. With a very interesting reverse. Scuffs and scrapes on the obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From a European Collection, ex Nomos 13, 7 October 2016, 269 and Leu 91, 10 May 2004, 527.

The reverse shows the shrine of Vesta in the Forum. It was one of the oldest temples in Rome, but had been destroyed and rebuilt several times: this is the version completed and dedicated by Vespasian after the Augustan temple had been damaged in the fire of 64.