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Check out the eye-catching reverse on this coin – the goddess Venus, seen from behind, naked to the hips, and leaning against a column with a long scepter in one hand and a crested helmet in the other. Interestingly, this Venus reverse type was first stuck by the Roman Empire’s founder, Augustus, who strongly advocated for the revitalization of religion, virtues, and the honor of the Roman people. As Julius Caesar’s adoptive son, Augustus also promoted his Julian clan’s descent from Venus herself. Subsequently, Venus became a symbol of imperial power, with Her image adorning Roman art, civic architecture and coins. In the case of this denarius, Roman Emperor Titus paired Venus with his daughter Julia Titi (~64 - ~91 AD).
The significance of this coin is best understood in historical context. It was struck circa 90 AD, about a year after Titus ascended Rome’s throne following the death of his father, Vespasian. Vespasian was the final victor in the Year of Four Emperors (69 AD), a tumultuous period that saw the end of the nearly century-long reign of the Julio-Claudians. Lacking a precedent, Vespasian needed to ensure that the Empire could propagate under a different dynasty, i.e., his own Flavian clan. His promotional campaign included this Venus reverse type on coins, connecting himself to Augustus, and by regression to Julius Caesar, and by further regression to the Julian clan’s claimed forebear, the Trojan mortal Aeneas, and finally to the latter’s divine mother, Venus. By using Venus’ image, Vespasian sought to legitimize his Flavian dynasty, and assure his fellow Romans of his continuity with the original imperial regime. When Vespasian was succeeded by his son Titus in 79 AD, it was the first time there was a transition by (non-spilled) blood for an imperial dynasty other than the original one. Therefore, it was important for Titus to also connect himself with the Julian clan, and he copied his father by striking coins featuring himself on the obverse and this Venus reverse type. As it turned out, Titus was the last living Emperor to strike his own coins with this Venus reverse type.
Titus also extended the Flavian promotional campaign to include his daughter. Notably, coins such as this one that Titus struck for Julia Titi represent the first exclusive numismatic pairing of this Venus reverse type with a Roman Empress. Also of note is the remarkable reverse epithet VENVS AVGVST. Since Julia Titi’s name is not included, the reverse epithet clearly denotes Venus the August, the first time that She was thusly proclaimed on Rome’s coinage. In this instance, the goddess’ epithet does not simply denote VENVS or one of Her usual aspects, but instead identifies the goddess by the same honorific carried by Roman Empresses. This special aspect of Venus is explicitly identified as the goddess of the imperial family, holding the same title that they do.
Turning the coin reveals Julia Titi’s draped bust and the obverse inscription IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, or Augusta Julia Titi, daughter of the Augusti. The grand total of no fewer than three mentions of August/Augusta/Augusti on this coin emphasizes the correlation between Julia Titi, Titus, and Venus. Specifically, Julia Titi is the daughter of the Augusti, the plural form of Augustus, pointing out that she is descended both from Titus and, by regression, from Venus. Despite the fact that the principate now belonged to a different dynasty, the linkage between Venus and imperial power endured. That relationship was no longer on a familial or personal level, but rather a patronage of the imperial family, regardless of their specific ancestry.
Besides patronage to the imperial family, Venus had many other aspects, including fertility. The pairing of Venus with the sixteen-year-old Julia Titi thus sent another message, namely the promise for propagating the Flavian dynasty. To this end, Titus sought to marry his daughter to his younger brother, Domitian. Typically considered under Roman values as incestuous and immoral, such as avunculate marriage had precedent within the principate, i.e., Claudius and Agrippina the Younger. Even so, Domitian refused since he was already married to Domitia Longina at the time, and he was unwilling to divorce her.
When Domitian ascended the throne (after Titus’ death in 81 AD), he declared Domitia as Augusta. It was now Domitian’s turn to strike denarii with his wife featured on the obverse and the same Venus reverse, including the reverse epithet VENVS AVG. As it turned out, it would be the last pairing of a Flavian Empress and this Venus reverse type. Besides a son who died at the age of three, the imperial couple did not produce any children.
As for Julia Titi, ancient accounts claim of an on-and-off love affair with her uncle. These chronicles were written with a negative bias towards Domitian, so they should be considered with caution. Ancient records confirm that Julia Titi was briefly married to Titus Flavius Sabinas, cousin and co-consul to Domitian in 82 AD. Sabinas was killed by the Emperor, reportedly on the frivolous pretext that the herald in proclaiming his consulship had called him imperator instead of consul. In any case, it does not appear that Julia Titi had any offspring. Reportedly, her affair with Domitian resulted in her carrying a child, but both Flavian dynasts died during an abortion attempt around 91 AD.
As for Venus, she continued to adorn the reverse flan on Roman Empress’ coinage, albeit in somewhat less provocative poses and aspects compared to those depicted by the Flavians. The goddess’ final numismatic pairing with an Empress was on Roman provincial coinage featuring Augusta Galeria Valeria - an example can be found later in this Custom Set - who, along with her husband Galerius, comprised the last imperial family to worship the pagan gods.
Additional Reading: “Venus Felix, Genetrix, and Victrix in the Numismatic Record from Augustus to Hadrian: Stagnation to Innovation,” C. Ryan, Brewminate, 6/28/2017.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Julia Titi, Augusta, AD 79-90/1, AR Denarius (18mm, 3.31 g, 6h), Rome mint, Struck under Titus, AD 80-81, NGC Grade: VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing stephane, hair in long plait at back, IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, Reverse: Venus, seen half from behind, naked to the hips, standing right, resting elbow on column, holding transverse scepter and crested helmet, VENVS AVGVST. References: RIC II.1 388 (Titus); RSC 14.