Ancients: Domitian Denarius (Under Titus)

Domitian Denarius 80 AD (Under Titus) - CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, lighted & garlanded altar

Any time I hear someone received a new Domitian, I always feel the need to ask, "What pose is Minerva striking on the back?" 6/8 of my Domitian Denarii have Minerva on the rev. I can now proudly say I have a decent looking Domitian without Minerva on the back.

On a side note; I was browsing the fake reports, (as I do before I bid on any coin) and I couldn't find a single fake listed with this matching obv legend. It seems most of the forgeries have the following obv:
IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M

Most of which match the die from the common Toronto Group forgery. I thought it was interesting as this Denarius typically realizes a higher price being a moderately less common reverse and being issued under Titus.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Usually Caesar issues of Domitian dont have Minvera posed overload reverses, only as Augustus. Wonderful coin though.

 

Very nice coin! Looks real to me.

 

I felt fine about it as well before looking up the fake reports. I always check for peace of mind as I have been deceived in the past.

 

Good idea. Always research a coin before purchasing. Especially a expensive one.

 

It looks good to me, too.
I have a number of Domitianus denarii too, but not a single Minerva reverse.

 

Maybe it's because I was lowly with my pocket book and picked up random Domitian Commons for 20-30 USD on ebay toward the beginning of my ancient exploits.

 

sweet addition => I love the lighted & garlanded altar

(very cool)

Ummm, I don't have a sweet AR denarius like your new pick-up, but I do have this hilarious Phoenician AE23

 

... what's happening on the reverse?

 

Titus loves his ox

 

Ooops, sorry => here is the description of my offering:

PHOENICIA, Berytus. Titus. Æ23
AD 79-81
Diameter: 23 mm
Weight: 13.28 grams
Obverse: Bare head left
Reverse: Founder plowing right with ox and cow
Reference: Cf. Sawaya 511 (D87/R? [uncertain rev. die]); RPC II 2045
Other: 12h … dark brown patina

 

"Founder plowing right"

I'd say he is

 

You're 100% correct, iamtiberius => "Never leave your cow with the neighborhood Founder!!"


=> yup, if I had a nickel for everytime my Dad would say that to us youngins!!




Hey, sorry for side-swipin' your thread, brother => fantastic new Titus Denarius (bravo)

 

Great denarius!

 

nice lookin' coin IAM, that reverse is really pretty.

stevex, I never really noticed how.....interesting....the reverse on your coin is!

 

Notice how Domitian as Caesar looks a bit more like Titus than he did later. My favorite Domitian as Augustus is this dolphin issued before he added TRP to the reverse.

 

I was just reading about this in Wayne Sales' book on Roman Provincials. Like so much else, I hadn't appreciated the significance of this "foundation iconography"-- it was just some guy working the field. In case some of you are also unfamiliar or interested, here is part of that passage (which he borrowed from an article by Kevin Ferguson):

"When it comes to the study of ancient history the Roman plough never appears to get much attention. It often is easier and more romantic to focus on the battles won and lost by the great general or the infamous emperor; rather than the lough and the poor fellow who walked behind it. There is nothing seductive about walking behind large farm animals while choking on dust, and occasionally stepping in dung; yet the Roman plough and ploughman need to be given a measure of respect for the place they hold in history. The Roman legion may have conquered the entire Mediterranean world, but it was the plough that helped to civilize it.

"The image of the ploughing colonist refers to the founding of a Roman colony, but perhaps even more significantly it represents Rome's ability to drive back the wilderness and domesticate the land in that particular region."

The passage goes on to describe an additional function of ploughing. The ploughman was in essence a surveyor, measuring out parcels as plowing progressed. 120 x 120 foot sections were furrowed to create a land unit known as an actus. "It was based on a line of 120 feet because that is how far the oxen could plough before they needed a rest".

So, the ploughman with ox(en) motif celebrates the establishment of a colony or province.

 

Oh Sure => take the fun out of it ... judger



Just jokes => yah, obviously my hat is off to the good ol' farmers and/or the early surveyors and settlers!! (ummm, that's really why I bought this cool Titus coin)

 

Wow Doug => I've always loved that anchor/dolphin reverse!! (great Titus coin)

 

Oh I had a dozen jokes ready to roll but thought I'd abstain for once

It was hard. I may have strained something.