Nothing Fancy, Just a Common Domitian Sestertius

I try to post all my new acquisitions after they are in hand here on CT. I debated about doing so with this one because there really isn't anything to write home about - it's very common and worn. But I like the portrait and the patina is rather appealing. So, here it is.

Domitian
Æ Sestertius, 23.75g
Rome mint, 92-94 AD
RIC 751 (C2). BMC 464.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XVI CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IOVI VICTORI; S C in exergue; Jupiter std. l., with Victory and sceptre
Acquired from eBay, May 2019. Ex Degani Coin Shop.

Just like the silver and gold, Domitian's aes coinage in the mid 80s settled down to a few predicable reverse types that were annually struck throughout the reign. The Sestertii were dominated by Victory crowning the emperor and the seated Jupiter with Victory, as seen on this coin. 'Jupiter the giver of Victory' was an important propaganda type because of the periodic conflicts on the Northern frontier that flared up form time to time. Domitian did not renew the consulship until 95, so these COS XVI sestertii are imprecisely dated between 92-94, which accounts for their extreme commonness.

The most interesting thing about this piece is that it came with a tag from the Venetian coin shop Degani. It was probably picked up by a tourist who wanted a memento from the 'City of Canals'.



Not all of our coins are going to be spectacular rarities in pristine condition. Even the worn common ones deserve some respect, I hope I did this one some justice.

So, feel free to share your common, worn, and ordinary coins.

 

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I think that is a great looking coin, @David Atherton !
Most of my collection consists of worn common coins and quite frankly, I like it that way. I love my historical piece to look like they have seen some history.
I can't decide which of my worn pieces to post, so I will post my only Domitian.
Worn (check), Common (check), Love it in my collection (check)


Domitian
AE As
86 AD
Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS PER PP, laureate bust right with aegis
Reverse: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI S-C, Virtus standing right, holding spear and parazonium

 

Nothing wrong with that David.

 

Here's a worn and ordinary sestertius:

 

That’s what I’m talking about! LOVE it!

 

Nothing special here either...



VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX
Laureate head of Lucius Verus right

TR POT VI IMP IIII COS II SC
Victory standing right holding palm in right hand and shield inscribed VIC PAR

Rome 166 AD

21.73g

Sear 5384 RIC 1456

Ex-ANE

 

That's a nice coin with pretty green color on it! .

 

i think this a Hadrian dupondius, can anyone help with identification.

 

Nice portrait and the most important that it is in a natural worn state, not tooled.
My latest Domitian AE AS with Fortuna:

 

I'll take a worn honest coin over a smoothed and/or tooled EF any day!

 

Great post - I really like ordinary stuff. I've been accumulating low grade sestertii lately - here are a few of the $20ish finds.

All three below I thought worth it because of the portraits - I'm still at that stage of collecting these that I find it hard to believe I can actually own original, ancient Roman portraiture of recognizable historical figures. I suppose I'll grow jaded and less thrilled at some point...such is collecting:

 

3 sestertii of Domitian.. one , emperor on horseback slaying a fallen German. 3rd as Caesar under Titus. The last is an As with a rather strange looking portrait (looks almost as though he has a moustache) , struck in in first year of his reign - AD 81 with Minerva reverse.

 

I like Flavian sesterii but I do find them to be a bit of a challenge to get. This is my only sestertius of Domitian as an Augustus. Sestertius Rv Juppiter seated RIC 794 Dated 95-96 A.D.

 

also a very worn Sestertius commemorating the Secular Games (LVDI SAECULARES) held September, 14 - December, 31 88 AD in Rome. My Sestertii are all pretty much worn, but it is what it is ...

Rome mint, 88 AD
32 x 33 mm, 19.79 g;
Ref.:BMC 428; RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 609; Sear 2764 (RCV 2000); Cohen 81;
Ob.: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P laureate head right
Rev.: COS XIIII LVD SAEC Domitian seated to left on low platform inscribed SVF P D, extending r. hand to give incense or suffimenta to togate citizen standing r. on the left with child standing center, hands raised; tetrastyle temple behind, in ex. SC

​

and a Dupondius:
Rome, 90 - 91 AD
27 mm, 10.29 g
Ref.: RIC² 705; BMCRE II 444-445;
Ob.: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P Radiate head of Domitian to right
Rev.: FORTVNAE AVGVSTI Fortuna standing left, holding rudder with her right hand and cornucopiae with her left, S - C

​

 

My sole Vespasian sestertius. You asked for it, David.

 

I got an ugly one similar to the OP - Jupiter on the reverse. It has been stripped of its patina (I assume). If my attribution is correct, it dates from late in Domitian's reign:



Domitian Æ Sestertius
(95-96 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[IMP CAES] DOMIT AVG GERM COS XVII CENS [PER P P], laureate head right / [IOVI VIC]TORI SC, Jupiter seated left holding Victory & sceptre.
RIC 794.
(21.86 grams / 31 mm)

 

As long as we're airing our dirty laundry, here's a poxy Pax from a large group lot.


Vespasian, 69-79 AD
sestertius, 35 mm, 25.2 gm
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG PM TR P P P COS III, laureate head right
Rev: PAX [AVGVSTI], S-C; Pax standing left, branch in outstretched right hand, holding cornucopia in left arm.
Ref: RIC II 437? RIC 243

 

Should be new RIC 243 (C3).

 

I believe the point here is the old 'glass half empty/glass half full' question. Some of us can look at the sestertius below and see nice surfaces and color with a pleasing face while others can only see two headless figures on the reverse. The obverse is as poorly struck at the bottom as the reverse is at the top but the lost detail there is easier to tolerate. I could have held out for perfection and paid 10x the price of this one but I chose the half full option. My estate would profit more had I chosen otherwise but I do like holding this coin.