Domitian Denarii - Scratches and a Chip!

A few days ago Mr. Atherton showed off a wonderful coin that many other collectors would have ignored. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/scratches-but-what-a-portrait.279992/

Here are a couple of my recent purchases of the same emperor that I feel fall into that same category. I'm simply upping the ante with a chipped coin as well!


Domitian AR denarius, Rome mint, 92 AD
O: Laureate head of Domitian right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI.
R: Minerva left with thunderbolt, spear and shield, IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P
- RIC 737 (R2), BMC (Specimen acquired 1977), RSC -

Rather than being drawn to the scratches and chip, my eye goes to the portrait and the beginnings of a subtle iridescent toning.

Domitian AR Denarius, Rome mint, 86 AD
O: Laureate head of Domitian right; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V.
R: Minerva right with spear and shield; IMP XI COS XII CENS P P P.
- RIC 425 (R), BMC 88, RSC 194

 

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Very nice Nemo.

 

A little chip is not so big a deal when you have such a nice portrait of Domitian. I bet the price was right too due to the little imperfection. Nice find!

 

Great coins @Nemo . I have 2 scarce denarii of Domitian and I am always on the lookout for more. Here is one of mine. Yes I have posted it before, but it is one of my favourite coins. According to David it was probably minted in the first few weeks of Domitian's reign as Augustus.

Domitian. AR denarius (18.1 mm, 3.36 g, 7 h). Rome mint, struck A.D. 81.

Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG, laureate head right

Rev: TR P COS VII, draped throne, back decorated with grain ears. RIC 3; BMCRE 2; RSC 554a.

Ex: William Rosenblum Coins Ex:Agora Auctions March 22, 2016 lot 52-174

 

I own several coins with chips, scratches and the like. I agree, it's the portraits of Domitian:

 

Great portraits @Bing . I have one of those Domitian Pegasi in my sights, but there are still a number of days before the auction ends.

 

That one was struck while Vespasian was still Emperor. Notice the nose change over the years. I don't think he much cared for his profile showing such a prominent Roman nose.

 

He definitely has Vespasian's nose in the earlier portraits.

 

I like it!

 

thx for sharing your nice coins

 

Someone took a chunk out of mine. Never got around to photographing it,

 

Some really fine examples, regardless of flaws. Nice to see them posted.

 

Mine have a lot of scratches also.

 

Nemo, even with the minor flaws those coins are superb, IMHO. Both portraits are top-notch for their issues too.

If the mail gods are kind to me, within the next week I'll re-up the ante with a problem coin that was given to me free as an incentive to purchase another coin I was thinking over.

 

Soon after Domitian became emperor the Rome mint underwent drastic changes, including a stylistic change. His coins struck under Vespasian and Titus were veristic in style, those struck after early 82 were highly idealised. We can gather from the ancient sources he was very vain about his appearance and the coinage bears that out!

 

Emperor Q of the Q Continuum...

 

All the posts are wonderful!!!

I picked up these three from Forum a few months ago in quick succession---all struck while he was 'Caesar':

 

Great coins, chip isn't bothersome.


Domitian (81 - 96 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VI, laureate head right.
R: IMP XIIII COS XIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield, owl at foot right.
Rome Mint, 87 A.D.
3.3g
19mm
(RIC [1962] 92), RSC 218, BMC 103

 

I don't think any 2000 year old coin is FLAWED.

I certainly like the philosophy of focusing on the character of the coin.

I like Ancients to show their age IE if a coin is to perfect sometimes it loses its History/Mystery.

In my opinion lol