Another Rare Domitian

Recently, I realised I was missing the four Minerva types from Domitian's last denarius issue of 94 in my collection. In the new RIC these denarii are listed as 'common', but they are actually quite difficult to find in trade. Surprisingly, a couple of weeks ago I was finally able to obtain a decent denarius from the series.



Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.21g
Rome mint, 94 AD
RIC 768 (C), BMC specimen acquired 1989, RSC 284b
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XIIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear, shield at her l. side (M3)

A nicely centred example in good style from this rare issue. Struck between mid September and 31 December 94.

Just to indicate how scarce the coins from this issue are, the BM did not acquire an example of the above 'M3' Minerva type until 1989. I will probably have a tough time adding the other three.

 

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Between you and @Okidoki, you corner the market on the Flavians and Hadrian respectively. Interesting how one is able to narrow the dates of issues on these. Congrats.

 

Specialising can be quite maddeningly frustrating at times. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

But with the eagle's eye you have you will easily beat the BM at finding them !
Good catch, once again

Q

 

Interesting denarius...and congrats on your scarce capture!!

I suppose I might someday become a bit more of a 'obsessive specialist' as I once was decades ago with moderns...but that would be years (decades? ..Do I have that long LOL) from now since I'm still trying to satisfy my 'generalist' cravings.

 

Great catch David. Nice full legends and a very nice portrait.

 

David: Perhaps you can help me. I do not collect Roman Imperials, and am not good at interpreting the attributes in Aorta. I have two Domitians that I casually acquired some time ago and do not have much attribution on them. One appears close to yours and another I would say has a Minerva Reverse...


RI Domitian AR Denarius 81-96 CE VIC GENS Obv-Rev.jpg


RI Domitian AR Denarius 81-96 CE Minerva Obv-Rev.jpg

 

Domitian struck four Minerva types from 83 onwards.

M1 Minerva advancing right, brandishing spear
M2 Minerva advancing right, brandishing spear, on capital of rostral column, accompanied by owl
M3 Minerva standing, facing left, with thunderbolt and spear and shield behind her feet
M4 Minerva standing left with spear

The different issues are dated according to TRP (renewed 14 September), IMP (awarded due to military victories), and COS (1 January when held) numbers.

Your first coin is:Rome mint, 93-94 AD
RIC 761 (C3), BMC 214, RSC 283b
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P; Minerva adv r., with spear and shield (M1)

Second coin: Rome mint, 90-91 AD
RIC 721 (C2), BMC 181, RSC 264
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P X; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear; shield at her l. side (M3)

That first denarius was struck in the issue just prior to the OP coin.

 

THANK you. As I was looking at the COS year on mine, I felt that mine was 1 year ahead of yours!

 

Well. I should post something....My only example of Minerva on a sestertius of Domitian:

 

Very nice coin David, I notice it is one of the protruding chin type. Alegandron got one two, interesting how they were playing around with his bust profile.

 

Ummm, errr-eh-heh-heh ... have you dudes ever seen this coin before?

=> PHOTO-BOMB!!

Yup, it's Dom The Bomb!!






Congrats, V70 ... you seem totally psyched about your new coin (I'm sure that it's totally different and far more rare than my humble example) ...

=> congrats on scoring another collection winner (thanks anyway for giving me the opportunity to let Dom out of the house ... he's a fricken piece of work!!)

Cheers, coin-bro

 

It's interesting (at least to me) to note the changing styles of his portraiture over the years - from the harsh veristic style of 81 to full blow 'Flavian baroque' a few years later.

 

When it rains, it pours. Not long after I acquired the above coin, this arrived in my PO box.



Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.22g
Rome mint, 94 AD
RIC 768 (C), BMC p. 341 note, RSC 284c
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XIIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P; Minerva adv r., with spear and shield (M1)
Ex Spartan 74, 20 September 2016, lot 164.

Struck in 94 between mid September and 31 December. Listed as 'common' in RIC, but not in BM.

Just two more Minerva types and I'll have the full issue. The hunt is on!

 

Congrats David, I wish you luck in tracking down the final 2.

 

Although I do have a silver Domitian Minerva it needs to be photographed, I do have this scarce Domitian AE AS Minerva advancing restoration issue of Claudius S.2899, 9.3gm, 81-82 AD.

 

That's a great example! Someday, (if I ever stray over to bronze) I would love to collect these 'restoration' pieces.

Please photograph your Minerva soon, I would love to see it!

 

Thanks vespasian70 I will take it out of it's cardboard flip soon, although it is not anywhere as good as your's and actually just looking at it now my apologies it is the same type as Bings lower one
with the arm on hips. Haven't looked that much at it as it was lower grade but with a good portrait of Domitian and my second coin ever bought, knowing what I know now probably bought a lo cheaper than the $90 Aus I paid for it.

 

By special request I have given my silver Domitian some fresh air, you might be able to attribute it better than me vespasian70.