Lot 3053

Description

Julia Titi, daughter of Titus, (A.D.79-81), issue struck at Rome A.D.90-91, AE Sestertius, obv. DIVAE IVLIAE AVG DIVI TITI F, SPQR in exergue, Carpentum drawn by two mules to right, rev. S C in centre, around IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER PPP, (cf.S.869, RIC 400, C.9). Surface porosity, with some smoothing, otherwise fine and very rare.

The Carpentum a covered chariot was used by ladies of high rank, and sometimes by the emperor himself, but its use was exclusively made to members of the imperial family. In this example its use is to convey at a funeral an image of the deceased Julia Titi, it being driven by mules was a further distinction to be only associated with imperial women.