his disposition in his general conduct. In what concerned the commonwealth he acted like an emperor; in all things else as a private person. "Greatness and majesty," says Pliny," worked no alteration in him, save that of making his power of doing good answerable to his will;" and Eutropius declares that he was, as to other princes, "optimis comparandus." His clemency-though deeply sullied by the foul murders of Priscus, Sabinus, and the admirable Eponina-was known and felt throughout the empire; and so little was he given to the horrid revengefulness of his predecessors, that he dismissed a former enemy with the "ito morboniam" which the fellow had caustically addressed to himself; and he gave to the daughter of Vitellius an honourable husband and splendid dower. Imputations of covetousness have been cast on him, for reviving suppressed impositions, and for his exceptionable modes of obtaining money; but these practices must have been chiefly owing to the exhausted condition in which he found the treasury, and the urgent necessities of the state. It is well known that he applied his revenues to great and noble purposes, and laid them out with uncommon generosity;-he was the first who pensioned the Greek and Roman orators; and his liberality in all cases of distress or disaster, as well as his munificence to men of genius, and artists, are too minutely recorded to be doubted. It is true that his private morals were not without stain, but under him it was remarked that "truth came into fashion." Like Augustus he had great faith, during his fortunate career, in the sign Capricorn, under which they were both born; and like that prince, he was much given to pleasantry. When a deputation promised to raise a statue to him, he smiled, and holding forth his hand said-"let this be the base of your statue; place your money here." And when apprized of danger, in his last illness, he jested at the customary apotheosis awaiting his demise, by remarking-"ut puto, Deus fio."

The effects of such policy are visible in the occurrences of his reign. A dangerous rebellion in Gaul was suppressed, Judæa was conquered and triumphed over, and Comagenæ was subdued: and to rescue Greece from her intestine broils she was again subjected to Roman law and tribute. After closing the temple of Janus, he erected that of Peace-of which such magnificent ruins still remain; besides which, Vespasian embellished the city with many new buildings, and commenced that architectural wonder, the Flavian Amphitheatre.

The Latin coins of Vespasian of all metals and modules, except the fourth brass, are common and moderately priced, unless the reverses happen to be of unusual type: but colonial coins of this Emperor are of great rarity. Those attributed to Vespasia Polla, are declared to be false, though that in the cabinet of M. J. J. de Hauern, of Vienna, has been defended by plausible advocates.

LXIX.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPAS. AVG. PM. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patria, Consul tertium. The laureated portrait of Vespasian; he is represented as a man of advanced age, with a wrinkled forehead, hollow eye, aquiline nose, and prominent chin,-the whole expression recalling the sarcasm of an-unlucky wit, recorded by Suetonius; and the "Et faciem duram," &c. of Martial.

Reverse. AQVAS CVRTIAM ET CAERVLEAM PERDVCTAS A DIVO CLAVDIO ET POSTEA INTERMISSAS DILAPSASQ. PER AN. IX SVA IMPENSA VRBI RESTIT. This, which is one of those extraordinary fabrications that bid fair to baffle the most patient antiquary, is retained in my cabinet for its ingenuity. It was purchased at the sale of Mr. Trattles' magnificent collection, in 1832, and I no sooner examined it, than it struck me that the obverse was that of a true coin, but that an insignificant reverse had been scraped away, and this inscription tooled in its place. It has been executed, however, with such singular care, both in the form and disposition of the letters, that it requires an experienced eye to detect informality, insomuch that my learned friends, the Rev. Dr. Philip Hunt, and Francis Douce, Esq. were for some time undetermined as to its genuineness. What seems to stamp it as a fraud is, that the legend is found verbatim in Gruter's "Corpus Inscriptionum," p. CLXXVI. cap. Operum et Locorum and moreover, the inscriptions on Roman medals are so remarkable for the admirable brevity of expression with which they convey a fulness of ideas, that the very length of this alone, excites suspicion.

LXX.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Læsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patria, Consul tertium.) The laureated head of the Emperor turned to the left. This medal is in excellent condition, and as well as all those struck in A. D. 71, prove Suetonius to be mistaken in asserting that Vespasian was not invested with the tribunitian power, nor dignified with the title of Father of his Country, till the latter part of his reign. Procured at Pola, in 1819. Reverse. S. P. Q. R. ADSERTORI LIBERTATIS PVBLICAE. (Senatus Populus Que Romanus, Adsertori libertatis publica.) "Erat in ore, famaque Vespasianus," and to mark the estimation in which such a favourite was holden, the senate struck this unique and very complimentary inscription encircled by a civic garland. For the reason of S. C. being omitted, see No. XXXII.

LXXI.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul terlium.) The laurelied portrait of Vespasian. This coin was procured from Mr. Young, in 1830, but though sound, is only in secondary preservation.

Reverse. SPES AVGVSTA. On the exergum S. C. A light-robed female presents her hand to three soldiers, of whom the foremost bears a military standard, the middle one a lance held transversely, and the third has a sword girt to his waist. The latter fact is the more remarkable, since I have not met with a sword upon any other large-brass medals, except that mentioned at No. LXV, and those of Titus, and Domitian, on horseback, where the foe is represented as wielding one. Though this piece was not struck till A. D. 71, the three soldiers may typify the legions of Mysia, Judæa, and Egypt, which were the first to salute Vespasian as their Emperor.

LXXII.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium) The laurelled head of the Emperor. A coin in tolerable preservation, and of cousiderable rarity; it was procured by exchange, in 1829.

Reverse. ROMA RESVRGES. On the exergum S. C. Here the Emperor is seen togated, and before him is a kneeling female to whom he offers his hand: between them stands Minerva galeata, with a shield on her left arm. This was struck by the senate to commemorate the munificence of Vespasian, in rebuilding the edifices destroyed in the late conflict with Vitellius. On some coins the legend is Roma resurgens, or Rome rising again; but here the n being omitted, it signifies" Rome! thou shalt rise again."

LXXIII.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. II. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) A very expressive laureated head of the Emperor. This beautiful medal-of the mintage of A. D. 71-is covered with a dense-green patina, and bears a small silver eagle, the stamp of the Modena collection. It is in perfect condition, and was presented to me by that zealous antiquary, M. Hubert, chief engineer to the Bey of Tunis.

Reverse. IVDAEA CAPTA. On the exergum S. C. This is a reverse of great historical interest, because it tells the entire subjugation of the Jews. A palm-tree rises in the centre of the field, as emblematic of the country it grows in: whence Pliny's "Judæa vero inclyta est vel magis palmis." See No. CLXXVI. On the right sits Judæa, personified as a female, her head leaning upon her left hand, with a deep expression of affliction and captivity. On the opposite side of the tree stands the Emperor in a military habit, with a parazonium and lance, having his left foot upon a helmet, in the attitude of a victor.

LXXIV.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) A characteristic portrait of Vespasian. This fine medal is in surprising preservation, and entirely varnished with a black patina; it was found at Argos in 1822, and was presented to me shortly afterwards, by Miaulis, the Greek admiral.

Reverse. IVDAEA CAPTA. On the exergum S. C. Here a veiled female has "sate down and wept " under the palm-tree, as in No. LXXIII, but instead of the Emperor, stands a man with his hands bound behind him ;-he is probably intended for the ferocious Simon, who was paraded in the triumph, and, after the brutal practice of the Romans, put to death the same day. The captive female is seated on a cuirass, which is thereby denoted to have become useless; and the bucklers around recal the words "the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away."

LXXV.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsur Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) The laurelled head of Vespasian, with harsh features. This coin, which was purchased in London, in 1829, is in rather indifferent preservation.

Reverse. PAX AVG. (Pax Augusti.) On the exergum S. C. A female standing, who with a torch is setting fire to some spoils of war, which are heaped up before an altar; her left hand holds an olive branch. Behind her is a pillar with a small armed statue upon it, and an unemployed shield at its base. This is, perhaps, the "noted column" described by Pomponius Festus, as standing before the temple of Bellona, from which a javelin was thrown whenever war was declared. Peace is therefore turned from it. The whole alludes to the Roman custom of piling up the armour from the field, after a battle, and making it a burnt-offering to Mars.

Addison thinks this coin was struck when Vespasian, having finished all his wars, had closed the temple of Janus; but though this is very probable, such a symbol seems to celebrate a particular rather than a general peace, or such as was fondly dreamed by that Emperor would

be "eternal."

LXXVI.

Obverse. IMP. CAESAR VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. POT. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) The laureated profile of the Emperor, with hard lineaments, and the neck naked. A coin in middling condition, but of considerable rarity. Purchased in London, in 1829.

I

Reverse. SIG...REC... (Signis receptis) On the exergum S. C. An elegant winged Victory presenting a legionary standard to Vespasian, who is placed on a suggestum. It is difficult to ascertain what event gave birth to this type: it may, in imitation of one by Augustus, allude to a recovered eagle; or, perhaps, to some standards taken from Fonteius Agrippa, by the Sarmatic Jazygian. LXXVII.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) The laurelled head of Vespasian, with his usual expression. A good conditioned medal of A. D. 71, with a green patina, which was procured from Mr. Till, in 1830. Reverse......CAESAR COS. DES. II. CAESAR DOMIT. COS. DES. IT. (.....Cæsar, Consul designatus iterum, Cæsar Domitianus, Consul designatus iterum.) In the field S. C. Struck by Vespasian in honour of his two sons, Titus and Domitian, on their both attaining a second consulship. The two Cæsars are in military babits, with the hasta pura, but bareheaded; Titus is the manlier of the two, and is further distinguished by the parazonium.

LXXVIII.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul tertium.) A harsh profile of the Emperor, with the neck bare. A medal in good preservation, though thinly patinated; it was struck A. D. 71, and presented to me by Major General Sir Manley Power, at Malta, in 1822.

Reverse. S. C. (Senatus Consulto.) A magnificent temple of six columns, elaborately decorated with statues; and Jupiter seated between Juno and Pallas in the adytum. See No. CCCXXIII. This symbol is usually called the "temple of Peace;" but it is evidently a commemoration of the rebuilding of the Capitolium, which had been destroyed in the Vitellian disturbances: it is well figured in the "Discours de la Religion des anciens Romains," by Du Choul, 1581.

LXXIX.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. VII. (Imperator Cæsar Vespasianus, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patrice, Consul septimum.) A hard-featured laureated head of the Emperor. This medal, by the consular date, was minted A. D. 76; it is coated with a dark-green patina, and fell into my possession in London, in the spring of 1828.

Reverse. S. C. (Senatus Consulto.) Between the letters rises a conic pillar called Meta, which though unlike the Meta Sudans of Titus, may have been struck on repairing an aqueduct. The name of meta was originally given to the three columns, or pyramids, around which the chariots of the circus performed their races: the "metaque fervidis evitata rotis" of Horace. The "starting post" was called the meta Murcia, from its proximity to the fane of a goddess, to whom the females sacrificed for the "embonpoint;" lean ladies having no more chance of getting a husband amongst the ancient Romans, than amongst the modern Moors and Turks. LXXX.

Obverse. DIVO AVG. VESP. (Divo Augusto Vespasiano.) On the exergum S. P. Q. R. (Senatus Populus Que Romanus.) A sedent togated statue of the Emperor, with the radiated head and wand of divinity, and holding an alate Victory, is placed upon a superb car drawn by four elephants, each mounted by a maháut: a type palpably borrowed from that of Augustus, No. VIII. The medal is covered with a deep-brown patina; and is singularly perfect; it was presented to me by Padre Blasi, a Dominican, at Albano, in 1823.

Reverse. IMP. T. CAES. DIVI VESP. F. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. VIII. (Imperator Titus Cæsar, Divi Vespasiani filius, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patria, Consul octavum.) This legend surrounds an uncial S. C. and stamps the date A. D. 80. It is recorded that the obsequies of Vespasian were performed with extraordinary pomp, by Titus; and the consequent apotheosis is hereby typified. At the circus, the images of deified emperors were paraded after those of the twelve great gods.

DOMITILLA.

Flavia Domitilla was of very obscure birth, being the daughter of Flavius Liberalis, a Quæstorian scribe. She was originally a bond-woman, or slave, to Statilius Capella, a Roman knight, but having been manumitted was married to Vespasian, A. D. 40. Domitilla died before her husband's elevation to the empire, and her name was almost unknown in Rome, till it was drawn from oblivion by divine honours. This public deification, though unnoticed by Tacitus, Dio, or Suetonius, is recorded upon gold and silver medals of extreme rarity; and we learn from an inscription preserved by Gruter, the excellent philologist, that an order of priests was instituted for her altars: Sacerdos Diva Domitillæ.

This lady bore two sons and a daughter, the latter of who died in infancy; it appears that she was named after her mother, whence antiquaries have been inclined to share the posthumous honours between them,-but, I think, without just grounds.

LXXXI.

Obverse. MEMORIAE DOMITILLAE. On the exergum S. P. Q. R. (Senatus Populus Que Romanus.) A rich carpentum, profusely ornamented, and drawn by two mules. See No. XVII, and XXXII. This medal was purchased at the sale of Mr. Trattle's collection in 1832, when it displaced a remarkably fine one which I had procured in Italy. It is in excellent preservation, and of the bright-yellow brass erroneously termed Corinthian,-for that compound, whether occasioned by the accidental mixture of metals at the conflagration of Corinth, or made by judicious amalgamation, was never used in the mint.

Reverse. IMP. T. Caes. divi vesp. F. AVG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. VIII. (Imperator Titus Cæsar, Divi Vespasiani filius, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Pater Patriæ, Consul octavum.) In the centre of the field an uncial S. C. (Senatus Consulto.) This may very safely be pronounced to have been struck by Titus, A. D. 80, in honour of his mother. Yet Occo, Biragi, Mionnet, and other medallists, insist that it commemorates his sister, because the title" diva" is omitted: but surely the sacred thensa is sufficient to stamp the consecration. This objection seems as little tenable as does the common practice of giving Titus as a prænomen to Vespasian.

TITUS.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the son of Vespasian and Domitilla, was born at Rome," in a little dark chamber," A. D. 41. He was brought up in the court of Nero, with Britannicus, whose fate he narrowly escaped sharing. At an early age he was remarkable for his proficiency in eloquence and poetry, and was so expert a calligrapher, that he could forge any man's writing. His first military services were in Germany and Britain, but he acquired the greatest renown as lieutenant to Vespasian, and the supporter of his authority. He was saluted Cæsar, and Prince of the Youth, A. D. 61; and was shortly afterwards decorated with the title of Emperor, and associated with his father in the sovereign power: the two being honoured with a most magnificent triumph for the conquest of Judæa. Titus succeeded to the whole empire A. D. 79: and various public calamities—such as