Over the weekend I acquired a rare early Minerva type, probably struck within the first few weeks of Domitian's reign. Domitian AR Denarius Rome mint, 81 AD RIC 28 (R), BMC p. 433, RSC 56a Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, r. Rev: COS VII DES VIII P P; Minerva adv r., with spear and shield (M1) The Minerva on this denarius is distinctively quite flamboyant and was struck in the Autumn of 81 soon after Domitian became emperor. This is one of the earliest appearances of Minerva for Domitian as Augustus and it copies the same type coined for him as Caesar under Titus the previous year. The reverse is a die match with the RIC plate coin. I was really thrilled to get this both because of the rarity of the piece and the bargain price. The eBay seller did not specialise in ancients, so I basically had no competition. Please post your Minervas or Domitians! (Yes Steve, please post yours too )
Also very early with the same reverse legend and no TRP (the type appears both ways) is this Dolphin carried over from the Titus years.
A really nice specimen of the type Doug. And yes, it is a carry-over pulvinaria type from Titus' series. It's debated whether the pulvinaria in question was for the religious appropriations after Mount Vesuvius erupted or for the opening games of the Colosseum. You are very astute to point out the lack of TRP in the legend, which indicates this is very early in the reign.
Great coin David, congrats! Here is my Minerva Domitian AR denarius, F, well centered, toned, 3.297g, 18.9mm, 180o, Rome mint, 14 Sep 88 - 13 Sep 89 A.D.; Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII, laureate head right; Rev: IMP XVII COS XIIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, helmeted and draped, thunderbolt in right, spear vertical behind in left, grounded shield on left side behind; RIC II, part 1, 659 (R); BMCRE II 149; BnF III 140; RSC II 245; cf. SRCV 2732 (IMP XIX) Ex: the Jyrki Muona Collection, Ex: Forvm Ancient coins
I have a couple of early Domitian's DOMITIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M - Laureate head right REVERSE: TR POT COS VIII P P – Throne Struck at Rome, 81/2AD 3.1g, 17mm RIC 100, C 596 DOMITIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right REVERSE: COS IIII, winged Pegasus standing right with raising left foreleg Struck at Rome, 76AD 3.1g, 20mm RIC 921
