Not currently on display at the V&A

Aureus of Titus

Coin
75 AD (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an ancient Roman coin, an aureus of Titus, depicting the head of Titus on one side and Victory on the other. The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins.
The aureus was an ancient Roman gold coin, issued from around the 1st century BC up to the 4th century AD. One aureus was worth 25 silver denarii. The denarius was a small silver coin and the principal silver coin issued in the ancient Roman currency system from the late 3rd century BC until the early 3rd century AD.
The coins bequeathed to the V&A by George Salting include examples of silver coins from Syracuse of the 4th century BC, a set of gold imperial coins of Rome, and some fine specimens of bronze denarii of the Roman Empire.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAureus of Titus (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gold
Brief description
Coin, aureus of Titus, gold, head of Titus / Victory, Roman, 75 AD
Physical description
Obverse: Inscription. Head of Titus. Border of dots.
Reverse: Inscription. Victory holding crown in outstreched right, standing on the cista mystica. Border of dots.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 2.03cm
  • Weight: 7.34g
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN' (obverse)
  • 'PONTIF TR P COS IIII' (reverse)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an ancient Roman coin, an aureus of Titus, depicting the head of Titus on one side and Victory on the other. The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins.
The aureus was an ancient Roman gold coin, issued from around the 1st century BC up to the 4th century AD. One aureus was worth 25 silver denarii. The denarius was a small silver coin and the principal silver coin issued in the ancient Roman currency system from the late 3rd century BC until the early 3rd century AD.
The coins bequeathed to the V&A by George Salting include examples of silver coins from Syracuse of the 4th century BC, a set of gold imperial coins of Rome, and some fine specimens of bronze denarii of the Roman Empire.
Bibliographic reference
'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 112
Collection
Accession number
A.677-1910

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest