Not in RIC - a unique middle bronze of Domitian, with help from Orfew

Last week, a seller privately offered me a few middle bronzes, including this one:

(apologies for the mediocre pictures; I will update these later. Also, still need to be measured and weighed).

@Orfew, @David Atherton and @Parthicus Maximus regularly post their Flavian additions, and though Roman coins are not the focus of my collection, I enjoy the opportunity to learn. By doing so, I’ve accustomed myself to look for denari of domitian starting with ‘pont’ or ‘cars’, or left looking busts. This coin combined both ‘caes’ with a left looking bust, so that probably meant it had to be scarce. Yet, I couldn’t really find the right RIC number, so I messaged @Orfew, who quickly replied that it was, in fact, a unique coin (thus explaining why I wasn’t able to pinpoint it).

I then quickly secured the coin, and it arrived this evening. As said, it needs to be properly photographed, measured and weighed, but it feels nice to hold it in hand. I lack the knowledge to really appreciate it, and have a few questions:
- how often are new Flavian coins found?
- is there a way to ‘add’ this coin to RIC, or other relevant databases?

Looking forward to any replies!

 

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fine lQQkin' coin

 

Great coin!! Yes, you can add to RIC - I added a Commodus coin once. I really apologize as I cannot remember his name on Facebook, but I located the main website and then Facebook Messaged him and we went from there. Hope this helps!

 

I'm sorry for my earlier comment. That's when I added something to RPC, not RIC. I got them confused!

 

As @Orfew probably told you, your coin seems to be a variant of RIC Titus 353.

That coin has the same obv. legend, CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII, and the same Securitas seated left reverse type, assuming that on RIC 353 Securitas is supporting her head with her left hand, as on your coin.

Three differences, however. On your coin the portrait faces left, not right as on RIC 353; your rev. legend is SECVRIT AVGVST S C, not SECVRITAS AVGVST S C as on the RIC coin; and your coin omits the altar at Securitas' feet, whereas RIC 353 is said to show an altar there.

A possible fourth difference: maybe RIC 353 shows Securitas not supporting her head with her left hand as on your coin, but rather resting her left elbow on her throne, a variant of the type that is mentioned in RIC p. 211, note 33, and illustrated by RIC pl. 99, 210-211.

One would like to be able to confirm these reported differences from a photo of RIC 353; but unfortunately RIC doesn't either provide a picture of this variant, reported to be represented by coins in Copenhagen and Rome, or refer to a picture already published elsewhere.

Despite the hundreds and hundreds of new Flavian coins that the revised RIC reports from a large number of museum or private collections and from printed or online sources, unpublished variants still turn up with some frequency, because of the many obverse legends and bust types on the one hand, and the many reverse types, legends, and variants of the types and legends on the other hand, which could be coupled with one another in seeming innumerable combinations.

If @Orfew or @David Atherton hasn't already done so, we can report your coin to Ian Carradice, one of the RIC authors, who is collecting material for a supplement to the Flavian volume

 

To be honest, reading this thread is the first time I've seen this coin! I assume it has already been reported. Andrew?

 

Thanks @curtislclay and @David Atherton. I will send him a message tonight.

@Roerbakmix congrats on securing this great coin. It is not everyday that a Flavian coin shows up that is not in RIC.

I am glad I was able to help. It just goes to show we have more to learn about these coins What fun!

 

Maybe better to wait until you have the better photos and the size, weight, and axis?

 

In Andrew's defense, he didn't have Carradice's email. He does now, hopefully the measurements are forthcoming!

 

Great find! It's always nice to submit a new type but I agree, it deserves better photos. Congrats!

 

Thanks all for the positive and erudite replies. I’ll try to photograph and measure the coin as quickly as possible.

 

Not the best pictures:


The coin weighs 10.90 g and measures 25.8 mm.