"Flyspecking" the coins of Domitian and a new addition

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orfew, Jan 20, 2019.

  1. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    As many of you have probably noticed, I like coins with small differences. One board member refers to this as “flyspecking” I like researching and speculating as to the reasons for those small changes. As we all know sometimes a small difference can make a large difference when it comes to rarity and desirability. There are those of us who are attracted to these variations. For some it might be a mint mark, a designation of officina, a legend variation, or the placement of a device such as a star or crescent. Whatever the interest I continue to find these variations intriguing. Below are examples of coins of Domitian where small differences have for me made the coins desirable. All of these coins are relatively early. They begin with an interesting Domitian as Caesar issue under Vespasian in 76-77 CE and end with a coin that marks the beginning of the massive and dominant Minerva reverse series.




    First, Domitian as Caesar. RIC 921 with the Pegasus reverse is a very common coin and also a very attractive one. After all who does not want a coin with Pegasus. It just has a certain “wow” factor. Carradice and Buttrey state that this reverse was copied from a reverse on a coin of Augustus. (I know someone on here as one of these so please post it) They Also state that this reverse type is one of the most common coin types of the time period. What then could possibly make my coin any more interesting? My coin is RIC 922 and as opposed to 921 it is not common at all. What separates the 2 issues is the obverse legend. On RIC 921 the obverse legend reads CAESAR AUG F DOMITIANUS, but on RIC 922 the legend reads CAES AUG F DOMITIANUS. This small change in legend results in a common coin becoming quite rare.
    Domitian RIC 922 small.jpeg

    Domitian as Caesar
    AR Denarius
    3.10 g
    Obv: CAES AUG F DOMITIANUS; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r
    Rev: COS IIII, Pegasus standing r
    RIC 922 (R2)
    Acquired from Kolner May 2018
    Ex: David Atherton collection




    The next coin is Domitian RIC 3. It is a rare coin but not excessively so. RIC 3 is part of the first issues for Domitian. The first 4 groups in the issue were all minted within a few months at the latest after Domitian assumed rule of Rome. It turns out that while group 1 denarii are somewhat uncommon as opposed to some very common later issues, group 1 denarii are far less rare than group 2 denarii. Group 3 denarii are also rare while group 4 denarii are generally more common but with a number of exceptions. What makes this coin interesting is that it was minted before many of Domitian’s titles were added. In group 1 denarii most of the coins have just the reverse TRP COS VII. It is not until very late in group 1 and early in group 2 that PP is added. My coin was probably minted in the first few weeks of Domitian’s rule. All of the first 4 groups of these denarii were minted between September 13 and December 31 of 81 CE.

    DOM new.jpg
    Domitian. AR denarius (18.15 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
    Purchased from Agora Auctions March 22, 2016.


    This next coin looks almost exactly like RIC 3. This coin was not published in RIC II Part 1 in 2007. This coin will be in the addendum to this volume. This coin is also published somewhere else. Sometime last year I sent the details and a photo of this coin for inclusion in the first issue of Koinon. It is on page 147. Now what small difference could have inspired me to chase and find this coin? On the reverse under the triangular frame there is a lituus (a device used in augury). This littus is not on RIC 3. These pulvinar types are a continuation of coins minted for Titus. On denarii of Titus both lituus and non-lituus varieties are known. I have seen a few of these coins with lituus but they are very uncommon. I think they might be more uncommon than the non-lituus versions.

    Domit RIC 3 Var new[7870]edit.jpg
    Domitian. AR denarius
    (16.88 mm 3.02 g,). 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 Lituus beneath
    the frame.
    RIC 3 Var;; RSC 554a.
    Ex: Akropolis Ancient Coins June 22, 2017.




    My fourth coin is my most recent purchase. I bought it from Victor Clark late last night. He has graciously granted me permission to use his photo here. As already stated I have been interested in when the titles for Domitian changed in his early months of rule. RIC 3 as described above does not have PP on the coins. There is only one group 1 issue that uses PP and this is only known for one example noted in RIC II part 1. That coin is RIC 6. PP is use for all group 2 denarii, but group 2 coins are notoriously rare. The change to PP was not the only reason I wanted a coin with this title. Group 1 denarii with one exception (RIC 6) use COS VII. I wanted a coin with COS VII DES VIII. Group 2 denarii have PP COS VII DES VIII, but they are very rare (check @david Atherton’s posts as he has one). However, group 3 denarii are more accessible. The legend is different however. Rather than having the PP title at the beginning of the legend the PP title is at the end. The legend on group 3 denarii reads: COS VII DES VIII PP. The coin I bought from Victor is a group 3 denarius with this legend
    Screen Shot 2019-01-20 at 12.26.58 AM.png

    Domitian
    A.D. 81
    AR Denarius
    18x19mm 3.2gm
    IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; laureate head right.
    COS VII DES VIII P P; Seat, draped; above, semicircular triangular frame decorated with three crescents.
    RIC II Rome 32



    The last coin I will present is the latest coin I have for Domitian. It was minted in 83 CE. It is notable for 2 reasons. First, it was minted after the currency reforms and so it made for nearly 100% silver. Secondly, it marks the beginning of a very large and consequential reverse type-Minerva. There were 4 different versions of Minerva, and the Minerva would dominate the denarii of Domitian for the rest of his rule. The Minerva reverse are by far the most common reverse type for Domitian. What then makes this next coin so special? It marks the beginning of what would become the dominant reverse type for Domitian. It also happens to be quite a rare type,

    Domitian ric 164 2 edited.jpeg
    Domitianus (81 - 96 AD).
    Denarius. 83 AD Rome.
    (20 mm 3.47 g)
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M. Head with laurel wreath on the right.
    Rev: TR POT II COS VIIII OF THE XP P. Minerva with lance and shield on capital standing to the right, in front of it an owl.
    RIC 164; C.606; BMC 4

    Ex: Silbury Coins January 28 2018




    If you have made it this far, thank you. I know not everyone likes “flyspecking” but it gives me an opportunity to track down rarities and look up numerous references. Tracking down the attributions and noting the differences is an interesting part of this hobby for me. Please post your coins of Domitian and any examples of tracking down coins with small differences.
     
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  3. Marsman

    Marsman Well-Known Member

    I made it to the end. Very interesting Orfew !
    I went through my Domitian coins to see if I have some of the types you mention in his thread.

    I only have the 'common' Pergasus coin (RIC 921), but with an attractive portrait of the young Caesar! If I remember well there is some variation in the type. On some coins Pegasus is stepping right and on other coins he is standing still and raises his leg. I am not sure if it's easy to see the difference :).


    Domitian_RIC_238.JPG

    Domitian, denarius.
    RIC II 921 (Vespasian), RSC 47.
    Rome mint, 76 A.D.
    Obv. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, right.
    Rev. COS IIII, winged Pegasus, standing right with raising left foreleg.
     
  4. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Great Domitians! It's often the little differences that can be the most rewarding.
    CollageMaker Plus_2018452280131.png

    Domitian
    81-96 CE. Denarius, 3.44g.
    (h). Rome, 81 AD. Obv: IMP
    CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P
    M Head laureate right. Rx:
    TR P COS VII - DES VIII P
    P Wreath on curule chair,
    the legs of which terminate
    in lions' paws. RIC 48 (C ).
    BM 18. Paris 17. Cohen 570
    (2 Fr.). Not a common coin
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    My use of 'flyspecking' does not include legend differences that change the RIC number but little things like the lituus on coin #3 does qualify. Flavian collectors have to be on top of a changing series of titles and legends to a greater degree than some of our specialties. On the Pegasus type, the 'flyspecker' tendencies in me notices the differences in noses on Domitian and the numeral bar over the IIII before it takes note of the CAES abbreviation that changes the RIC number. It strikes me that Marsman's coin and mine share noses and spelled out CAESAR while your CAES has a less prominent nose. I wonder which was first and if the mint was ordered to make the change or if it is just a matter of two workers with different styles. Does your use of 'Group' numbers imply an order of mintage or some other meaning or does it just note that there are differences?

    rb1430fd3355.jpg
     
  6. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Good questions Doug. As for the nose question I have noticed that on the early coins of Domitian the nose are more veristic. The nose seems to smooth out over time. Regarding the examples you discussed it is my assumption that the "Caesar" legend coins (RIC 921) come before the other rarer variety. However this observation is only based upon the general idea that the realistic nose came first. In the case of these 2 coins it could be the whim of the engraver. I will have a look a other examples where I can find them and see if this might apply across numerous examples.

    Take a look at RIC 3 in the OP. It is an early coin of Domitian as Augustus and does not have the smoothed nose.

    As for the group numbers I believe these are chronological. Once again thanks for your questions.
     
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  7. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Your coin is the work of one particular engraver whose signature mark is that prominent nose. He also worked on Vespasian and Titus' denarii. All of them are confined to the denarius types struck in 76 AD. I'm a fan of his work. 'CAESAR' likely came first and was later abbreviated to 'CAES'. Although, it is possible the two legends were struck simultaneously and signify separate workshops.
     
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  8. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    Good info Orfew , I only have a couple of common denarii of Domitianus:

    P1160728b.jpg P1160728pegasus2.jpg
     
  9. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

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  10. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Nose differences. I suspect Domitian didn't particularly like his nose.

    Domitian 5.jpg Domitian 8.jpg
     
  11. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Here's another Domitian - particularly bumpy nose, and a different Minerva from those above - shield at side.
    Domitian.jpg
    Domitian AR Denarius AD 93-94
    Mint: Rome
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XIII, Head of Domitian, laureate, right
    Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear; shield at side
    Size: 17.3-18.6mm, 3.5g
    Although the third "I" in the "XIII" on obverse runs off the flan - I think there is enough of a stub there to confirm.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2019
  12. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Excellent.


    Here's my 15 officina set from Antioch. Aside from the officina, I see 4 differences (with only 2 RIC #'s); ANZ and ANH are different (enough for me at least) .

    antfh.jpg
     
  13. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Yes, TR P XIII. Nice specimen!
     
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