Titus, 79-81. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35 mm, 26.57 g, 6 h), uncertain mint in the East (in Thrace or Bithynia?), 80-81. IMP•T•CAES•DIVI•VESP F AVG P•M•TR•P•P•P•COS•VIII Laureate head of Titus to right.
Rev. IVD - CAP / S - C Judaea, in attitude of mourning, seated left on pile of arms before palm tree; to right, bound Jewish captive standing right, head turned to left; around, various arms. BMC p. 433. Cohen -. Hendin 6627a. RIC 500. RPC 503. Rare and unusually attractive for this issue. A beautiful example with excellent details and wonderful natural surfaces. Very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
The Judaea Capta sestertii are arguably the most magnificent and emotionally resonant of all Roman issues commemorating the suppression of the Jewish revolt. Their large flan provides ample space to depict the full scene: the weeping figure of Judaea beneath a palm tree, the standing captive, and scattered captured arms - together forming a powerful visual message of Roman victory and subjugation. These coins were struck from the immediate aftermath of the war in 69 AD through the reign of Titus, with most examples dating to 70-71, following the Roman triumph in which the spoils of Judaea were paraded through the streets of Rome.
This historically significant type exists in two distinct variants. In the more common version, Judaea is seated to the right beneath the palm tree while the standing Jewish captive faces forward, gazing to the right. In the rarer variant seen here, however, the figures are reversed, and the captive turns his head over his shoulder to look back at the mourning figure of Judaea. Despite natural wear, the design remains clear and engaging, with a particularly strong and expressive portrait of Titus, and both reverse figures - Judaea and the captive - rendered with striking clarity and detail.
