Julia Titi, Denarius, 80-81
Rome - Silver - AU(55-58) - RIC:388
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Bust of Julia Titi, draped and diademed, right; hair in long plait.
Venus, naked to waist, standing right, resting left elbow on column and holding crested helmet in right and long transverse scepter with her left hand.
A superb example with a lovely, slightly iridescent cabinet patina! The minting is off-center and weak, but that doesn't prevent the details from showing through, notably Julia Titi's complex hairstyle and Venus, who could be described as callipygous. Julia Titi was the daughter of Titus, emperor of the Flavian dynasty between 79 and 81, and wife of Titus Flavius Sabinus, her father's grand-cousin and consul in 82. She died in 91 and was accorded divine honors. Coins bearing her effigy were minted during the reigns of her father and then her uncle Domitian, whom history records as having had a relationship with her. She is mostly associated with goddesses such as Vesta, Ceres and Venus, and with personifications of virtues associated with women. The representation of Venus on the reverse is in keeping with the iconographic continuity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, whose members claimed to be descendants of the goddess. This link is all the more important as it is a means of propaganda, of inscribing Titus and Domitian in time and of legitimizing them. This period also saw an increase in the number of female members of the imperial family depicted on coins, as well as their complete and lasting integration into imperial coinage.
IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F •
VENVS AVGVST
2.97 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
