I reported last week that I had missed out on a lot I was bidding on in the last Spink auction. They had many rare coins for Domitian from the Michael Kelly collection. @David Atherton gave me the heads up earlier that some rare Domitian denarii had been posted on Vcoins. I saw the following coin and grabbed it immediately. It is a rare coin of Domitian with the CENS POT reverse. I have a few of these and I am always looking for more. I might see 1-2 per year with this reverse. In addition the portrait is rare as well because it has the Aegis. I also noticed that the portrait is really attractive. It is a very sympathetic portrait of Domitian. The denarii of 84-88 have some of the best portraits of Domitian. The denarii of 85 are very scarce indeed. I thought that it was quite suspicious that a D339 would show up just 9 days after the Spink sale. I checked the auction records and sure enough my coin was part of Lot 228. Lot 228 was a lot I had bid on and lost in the Spink sale! As a result I discovered that my coin was part of the Michael Kelly collection. I was thrilled to get a second chance at this coin. Please post coins you bought because of a second chance opportunity. Domitian AR Denarius 85 CE (fourth Issue) (20.00 mm 3.35 g) Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG – GERM P M TR P IIII, laureate head right, wearing aegis Rev: IMP VIIII COS XI – CENS POT P P Minerva standing left, holding spear in right hand Ref.: RIC II 339 (R2), RSC 180a Ex: Michael Kelly Collection Ex: Spink numismatic e-circular 1 Part 1 Ancient Coins Auction 20120 Lot 228 (part). February 13, 2020. Purchased from Germania Inferior Numismatics on Vcoins February 22, 2020.
Great scoop! Here's one of mine from 85 RIC 0338 Domitian denarius IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII Laureate bust right IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POT PP Minerva standing left with spear Rome; 85 AD 3.13g RIC 338 (R2) Ex-Aegean
Very nice @Orfew. Here is one of mine struck a few years later in his reign: DOMITIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII, laureate head right REVERSE: IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing left holding spear Struck at Rome, 88-89 AD 3.3g, 19mm RIC 670
Jay, that is a beauty! Our coins have the same Minerva type as well. What separates them is the use of Aegis on mine.
Fantastic addition Andrew! Also nice that you got a second chance. I love these 85s as we have already discussed. I think 84-85 have the best portraits for Domitian, Although 86-89 often have also beautiful portraits. Do you already have an 84? They seem impossible to find.
I'm glad you were finally able to acquire that piece Andrew! And, I think it's a bit better than my own specimen. Domitian AR Denarius, 2.82g Rome mint, 85 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: IMP•VIIII COS XI CENS POT P P; Minverva stg. l., with spear (M4) RIC 339 (R2). BMC 80. RSC 180a. BNC 83. Acquired from Forvm Ancient Coins, October 2015. Ex Jyrki Muona Collection.
They are very tough but not impossible. There were 2 in the last Spink auction, a 184 and a 189. I missed both of them unfortunately. I still do not have a denarius from this year of issue.
I have several denarii from 84, and indeed they are scarce and quite pricey. If you want a more economical alternative, try seeking out a middle bronze from 84. They are produced in a similar fine style as the denarii. Domitian Æ As, 10.23g Rome mint, 84 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS X; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: MONETA AVGVST; S C in field; Moneta stg. l., with scales and cornucopiae RIC 221 (C2). BMC 288. BNC 304. Acquired from Marti Classical Numismatics, September 2018.
@Orfew .....Nice coin with a lovely portrait... Here's mine, as you know, struck a few years before.. Domitian. 81-96 AR Denarius (3.17 gm, 18mm). Rome mint. Struck 81 AD. Obv.: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, laureate head right. Rev.: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P, tripod surmounted by a dolphin right. RIC II 74.
Thanks @Spaniard for posting that RIC 74. I really like these early portraits. It so happens that this is one I do not have. I have RIC 72, RIC 73, and RIC 75.
Thanks for highlighting that some coins have appeared for sale again. I picked up a denarius from Germania Inferior Numismatics too. It was the only coin which I wanted in a group lot (that I bid on and lost), so it worked out well for me.
Wonderful coins - great additions. I wonder why a seat (or I guess, throne?) as a reverse was chosen? Do the symbols (lightning bolt, crescent, etc) have a specific meaning (they must!)? I assume to promote the power and influence of the Emperor...(That would be my guess) .. but I wonder if there is more to it that the populace could easily decipher ? Any thoughts or articles on this? Please post!
The pulvinaria are the couches or seats of the gods. Here is a couple of points regarding these coins. “[They] are a new type to the Roman series, and termed pulvinaria, or sacred couches of the gods. While Mattingly attributed these to the eruption of Vesuvius, recent scholarship tends to place these commemorating the opening of the Colosseum, at which there may have been seats for honored guests.” https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Flavian “In the following year there are a number of common denarii, all with new reverse types. The coins portray on their obverses either Titus or Domitian Caesar, and most belong to a group which Mattingly and Sydenham described as “‘supplicatio” coins showing [on their reverses] the exhibition of the emblems of the gods on “pulvinaria”’.’ Mattingly assumed that the coins commemorated a recent ceremony of supplication following a disaster - the eruption of Vesuvius. The series was to be repeated at the start of Domitian’s reign, possibly to commemorate another service of supplication following the great fire of 80. The only ‘common’ denarius of 80 not apparently belonging to the ‘supplicatio’ series depicts an elephant, which is assumed to relate to the famous games marking the inauguration of the Colosseum in that year.” Carradice, I , Towards a new introduction of the Flavian coinage.
