The postman recently delivered another great coin! Domitian as Caesar Æ As, 10.65g Rome mint, 76 AD (Vespasian) RIC 932 (C). BMC - . Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS IIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower Acquired from @Ken Dorney, January 2019. Spes, the goddess of hope, is seen here as an 'heir apparent' type. She is represented on Roman coins as a young girl, reminiscent of earlier Greek statues depicting Elpis. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II says 'the flower held by Spes is an opening bud, she is raising her skirt in order to hasten forward'. Spes occurs quite commonly throughout the Flavian coinage and is frequently paired up with the young Domitian Caesar, likely expressing a hope or expectation for future dynastic success. It is very Ironic that Spes is often associated with Domitian Caesar on the coinage, considering he would later be the family member most responsible for the dynasty's downfall in 96. Surprisingly, this common Spes type is not in the BM. The obverse features a quintessential Flavian portrait - unflattering hook nose with full and heavy facial features. The dark green patina is an additional bonus. Thanks Ken!
That sounds reasonable, although on the occasions in which I wear a floor length dress (ahem... almost never), the main reason to lift the hem is walking up a step or stairs... ...so I'm going to fancifully suggest that the coin means Domitian has an uphill battle but is hopeful that he will succeed! (This is not a serious suggestion.)
Well ... Domitian was not Vespasian's first choice as successor. Perhaps another ironic point regarding this type struck for him!
Spes was a common type for Titus, too, so we should not take that hope too seriously. Both of mine are sestertii.
I have always admired SPES reverse coins. The choice of the depiction of the goddess of hope was certainly appropriate for Claudian coins for the Senate and people of Rome had great hope that he would set the state on an even keel after the debacle of Caligula’s principate: AE SESTERTIUS OF CLAUDIUS BMCRE Volume I, Rome, Claudius, No. 124 RIC Volume I, Rome, Claudius No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue)
Considering the track record of all Emperors, no one had more to 'hope' for than he did. Did the type mean, "I hope my brother/son/friend/general doesn't kill me" or did it mean "I hope for the best for Rome"? Geta had hope forever (Spei Perpetuae). That was a short forever. Caracalla had hope, too but his forever was just a little longer.
Very nice new Domitian, David!! I have recently added 2 Spes of the papa, Vespasian. Vespasian, AE As Rome mint, Struck in 76 AD (like yours) Obverse: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS VII, Head of Vespasian, laureate, right. Reverse: Spes standing, left holding flower in right and raising skirt with left, SC across field. References: RIC II 894 Vespasian, AE As Rome mint, Struck 74 AD Obverse: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG COS V CENS, Head of Vespasian, laureate, right. Reverse: Spes, draped, advancing left, holding up flower in right hand and raising up skirt with left, SC across field. References: RIC II 730 In contrast, this new Antoninus Pius Spes As seems quite an appropriate reverse. Things were going really well with expanding the empire, with victories in Britain, building a wall, and all that. Antoninus Pius, AE As Rome mint, Struck 143-144 AD Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right. Reverse: IMPERATOR II, Spes, draped, advancing left holding flower-bud in raided right hand and gathering up fold of skirt in left, SC across field. References: RIC III 730
