'Once in a Lifetime'

When I first started researching this coin I wanted to know what temple it is too. After seeing so many variants of the type with different renditions of the mysterious temple, I came to realise I was missing the point of the reverse's message. The generic temple just served as a backdrop to the foreground action of Domitian sacrificing - the engraver's weren't preserving history, they were spreading propaganda. The actual sacrifice likely took place in front of a temple on the Palatine, unfortunately the coins do not point the way to which one.

 

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I think you're correct. The design would be much more cluttered if the columns did not fade. It would've taken away from the foreground action, which is the whole point of the reverse!

 

It is a fairly common type, rated as 'very common' in RIC II. Finding a specimen in decent condition is the rarity, luckily a few of our fellow Cointalkers were able to do so!

 

'And you may ask yourself, this is not my beautiful coin!'

 

I quite agree. Sure, as a specialist I enjoy acquiring coins with rare dating combinations, but nothing beats a piece like this that has broad historical or numismatic appeal!

 

1st thing that came to my mind

 

Wonderful find!

 

Does anyone have a copy of Marvin Tameanko's Monumental Coins? I disposed of my copy a few years back. If it is associated with an actual temple it would be illustrated in that book.

 

I have the book and it was the first place I looked when researching the coin, unfortunately it isn't mentioned.

 

A beauty/ my worn types ATTACH=full]887579[/ATTACH] View attachment 8875

 

Beautiful coin David!

Mine has a hole. I am always fascinated by holes in a coin. Why did people do that. In this case maybe to hang it on the wall as a reminder of the games ? Who knows...



Domitian, as
RIC 623
Mint in Rome, 88 AD
11,51 g, 30 mm
Obv. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P / laureate head of Domitian right.
Rev. COS XIIII - LVD SEC FEC SC / Domitian standing left, sacrificing over altar; to left, lyre and flute players standing right; temple in background.
Issued for the Secular Games

 

my last type is a E As minted at Rome, AD 88. Issued on the occasion of the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares). Laureate head right of Domitian. Reverse : Emperor standing left, sacrificing over garlanded altar; behind altar, harpist and flute player walking right; to left, river god Tiber reclining right, holding cornucopiae; in background, double temple with arch connecting the two pediments. RIC 387; Cohen 92. A very rare variety of this elaborate pictorial type 3 listed only in from all the auctions

 

my example,
has the same reverse die with this dupondius from wildwinds
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/domitian/RIC_0618.jpg

28 mm / 10,2 g
Domitian As. AD 88.
RIC 623
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P, laureate head right /
COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC, Domitian standing left, sacrificing from patera over garlanded altar, two attendants standing right, playing lyre and pan-pipes before him, hexastyle temple in background, with wreath in pediment. SC in ex.

 

What a beauty!
Congratulations. This is the kind of aquisition that makes coin collecting great, and thank you for sharing it here!

 

'and you may look at your bank account, and say my god! What have I done?'

 

Thank you !

 

Amazing coin David! Really love the patina. I've had this one for sometime now, another type in much poorer shape.


Secular Games Sestertius of Domitian
Obv. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P
Rev. COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC S C. Domitian sacrificing from patera over altar, Tellus reclining at left, on right Victimarius holding sacrificial pig, lyreplayer and fluteplayer in background.
35mm, 25.1 gm.