Over the weekend the postman delivered another Flavian rarity. Domitian Caesar AR Denarius Rome mint, 80 AD RIC T99 (R), BMC T83, RSC 380a Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS; Vesta, std. l., with palladium and sceptre The Vesta type was struck for Domitian Caesar with him as COS VI in 79 under Vespasian and COS VII in 80 under Titus. This denarius bears the COS VII dating and is much rarer than the common COS VI. Perhaps the window of time these rare COS VII Vesta denarii were struck was quite small because a whole new set of reverse designs were soon employed for him later in the year after Vespasian's deification (the DIVI F issue). When I saw the coin for sale and consulted my records to compare the dies with my own example I realised I actually did not have the rare COS VII type! Needless to say that was soon rectified.
cool new coin V70! man, in all this time i hadn't browsed through you galleries before...you've got a kick @## collection of flavians! http://tinyurl.com/2cgd8r i've seen many of these types before, but i didn't remember this helmet reverse...very nice. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1193&pos=22
I know well the pleasure of coming across a rare variety and snatching it up before anyone else does! It's a kind of smug self-satisfaction, lol. Congratulations.
I like the story How frustrating it is to discover a "new" type exists and it's so rare you will probably not see it once in a lifetime How rewarding it is to discover its existence at the same time you get it : two good news in one go ! Congrats David Q
