NGC Choice VF | Roman Empire — Titus as Caesar (AD 69–79) ‘Fine Style’ AV Aureus, Struck AD 73, Rome Mint

A breathtaking survivor of the Flavian age, this 7.17g Aureus of Titus as Caesar blazes with the quiet authority of Empire and the raw excitement of freshly unearthed treasure. Struck in AD 73, at the very height of Flavian power, this shimmering gold masterpiece presents a laureate portrait of Titus—expressive, confident, unmistakably the prince of a rising dynasty—rendered in Fine Style with all the artistry one expects from Rome’s greatest engravers.

On the reverse, PAX AVG stands radiant, leaning gracefully against a column, extending a symbolic winged caduceus over a purse atop a tripod—a tableau of peace, prosperity, and divine sanction. The imagery is unmistakable: Pax is not merely peace, but victory-made-peace, the hard-won calm forged by the triumph of Titus and Vespasian in the brutal Jewish–Roman War (AD 66–70).

And then comes the delicious numismatic twist: a die-sinker’s blunder, omitting the S from CENS. This isn’t a flaw—it’s a signature of ancient human hands. The tiny mistake turns this coin from exceptional to unforgettable, giving collectors that irresistible jolt of holding a one-in-a-million strike.

Boasting residual luster and light cabinet toning, this coin glows with that rich, mellow sheen only centuries of careful curatorship can impart. Housed in an NGC Ancients holder (Choice VF ~ Brushed) with superb grading metrics (Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, Cert. 8534355-002), this aureus carries unquestionable pedigree:

Provenance: The world-renowned “Hurter-Amman” Collection of Ancient and World Gold and Silver Coins and Medals — a name that needs no introduction in elite numismatic circles.

While Vespasian ruled, Titus is shown here fully elevated—already the chosen heir, already the future emperor. And these aurei, struck in the early 70s, are directly tied to the blood and glory of the Flavian triumph itself. This was the era of Judaea Capta, Mars Victor, Roma Victrix, and above all Pax, the goddess whose temple—the Templum Pacis—Vespasian ordered built using the spoils of Jerusalem, including the Temple Menorah itself. Coins like this may very well have been struck from that very plundered gold, pressed into service to finance Rome’s monumental vision of empire and peace.xcbggxx

A relic of war, victory, dynasty, and divine peace—a treasure worthy of emperors and collectors alike.