Last week I posted a very rare Domitian denarius that at first would not seem so. Here is a second rare coin from the same lot. Domitian AR Denarius, 2.73g Rome mint, 88 AD RIC 577 (R2), BMC - , RSC - Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT GERMAN P M TR P VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2) Ex Private Collection. Again, at first glance this Domitian Minerva denarius is nothing special, however, upon closer inspection one can see the obverse legend has the rare GERMAN spelling instead of the very common GERM. RIC cites only two specimens - one in Belgrade, another in a private collection. This is a very common issue from 88, but unusually it is peppered with scarce variants, such as this rare obverse legend. Other rarities include busts with aegis and a unique 5 aurei piece (subsequently stolen from Paris). Perhaps it's a special issue struck in conjunction with the Secular Games which were held in 88. Sadly it is worn, but has a very fine style portrait. This is another scarce denarius I have from the same 'special' issue, this time with an aegis portrait. Domitian AR Denarius, 3.12g Rome mint, 88 AD RIC 574 (R2), BMC - , RSC - Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VII; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. with aegis Rev: IMP XIIII COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva adv. r., with spear and shield (M1) Acquired from Lanz, eBay, 20 October 2013. I would assume that all four standard Minerva types would have originally been struck with a corresponding aegis portrait obverse, but to date the Minerva advancing right (M1) is the only type known to have one. If you were to look for anything of importance that occurred in 88, you would be hard pressed to find anything more important than the Secular Games - which indeed has known reverse types that commemorate it. Does the fine style of the series in question, combined with the only known aegis portrait issued after 85, and other coins fully spelling GERMAN point to a Secular Games commemorative issue? Perhaps this is the first series which commemorates the event before the specific reverse types (herald and cippus) were drawn up.
I can just see you scouring through all the Flavians selling auctions and seller listings. Seriously though, nice coins. Congrats.
