Ancient Rome - 79-81 CE Titus AV Aureus NGC Choice XF

Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AV Aureus (19mm, 7.32 gm, 6h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style, with light marks. Struck at the Rome Mint in AD 75. Obverse: T CAESAR-IMP VESPASIAN. laureate head of Titus right. Reverse: PONTIF-TR P COS IIII. Winged Victory standing facing on cista mystica, head facing left. She appears to be holding a snake raised in right hand, and her left hand is down at her side, serpent coiled on each side, stretching and reaching upwards toward Victory. References: RIC II.1 (Vespasian) 785. Calicó 750. This example is elegantly struck with a dramatic portrait and light patina.

From the Historical Scholar Collection

Bust of Titus, circa AD 70. Photo: wikipedia.

Titus succeeded his father Vespasian. This made him the first emperor to take the throne after his biological father. When Vespasian went to Rome to take the throne, Titus was put in charge of the military in the Jewish war in Judaea. In 70 Jerusalem fell to his troops, and his treatment of the Jews was very brutal. Notoriously, he had the Great Temple of Jerusalem destroyed. All that remains is the Wailing Wall. In 70 he was joint consul with his father; in 71 he was given tribunician powers; and in 73 he shared the censorship with his father. He also became praetorian prefect. In the latter role he did his father's dirty work, eliminating political opponents via questionable means. Doing that made Titus very unpopular.