This is one of my favorite types. The official coin is an issue with Domitia on the obverse, but I also have the great fortune to own an exceptionally rare mule with Domitian on the obverse. I believe there are only 2-3 known. I bought the Domitian from Tom Cederlind at NYINC several years ago. It was the first coin I had ever bought from him. A couple years later, I bought the Domitia from him at NYINC to make it a set. I didn't buy that much from Tom Cederlind in recent years, but I miss him. He was always a pleasure to talk to as he would make the coins come alive with his knowledge of history. He was one of the diminishing Old School dealers who still believed in printed price lists and telling the story of the coin. The Domitian was sold originally in NFA XXVII in 1991, which coincidentally was the sale of Roberto Russo's magnificent Roman Republican collection. I lifted this story below from someplace I can't remember, perhaps the NFA catalogue so I'm sorry I can't give the cite at the moment: Throughout the course of Imperial Roman coinage seven children were honored posthumously, with five of them being presented as gods. One of these divine children was an infant son born to Domitia, the wife of Domitian. Virtually nothing is known about him, and if he had not appeared on this rare coin type, he would have been little more than a footnote in the historical record. We may deduce from a passage in Suetonius, from historical circumstances, and from his infantile appearance on memorial coins that he probably was born in 83 and died soon thereafter. Regrettably, his name is nowhere recorded. Since the boy usually appears on the reverse of coins of Domitia, and Domitian seems to have divorced her in about 83 (roughly the time she would have given birth to the boy), it seems obvious that he died in infancy and that Domitian immediately deified him and celebrated him on coinage before he exiled his wife. Domitian’s grief must have been profound, for the boy’s presentation ranks among the most inventive on all Roman coinage; he is shown as a young Jupiter seated on a globe with his hands raised toward seven stars that represent the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major). The boy is also represented on two other rare issues: denarii inscribed PIETAS AVGVST that show him standing before Domitia in the guise of Pietas, and sestertii with a similar scene but inscribed DIVI CAESAR MATRI or DIVI CAESARIS MATER. This particular denarius is a notable rarity, and is considered to be a muling of a Domitian obverse with a Domitia reverse.
Absolutely superb!!! I'd LOVE to own either of them!! Those are the first examples I have seen and I'm JEALOUS!!! Wonderful background narrative as well....
Thanks for the kind comments all. I don't know whether it is the parent in me or what, but the reverse has always rung a cord with as well.
I LOVE the reverse, the "globe baby"! I've seen these before, but didn't now the story. A very sobering reverse really, now that I now what it signifies.
Very nice coins! I know today that child deaths are very hard on a couple. Wonder if the infant's death had anything to do with her exile?
Fantastic opportunity to get those together Carthago. I've previously seen the Domitia once, but never happened to see the Domitian Thanks for sharing Q
Wow Carthago => those are amazing!! I love the reverses ... Jupiter relaxing on the globe and looking-up at the Great Bear constellation (pretty darn cool)
