I received this coin in the post today, likely to be the last of 2019 (2 others are still in postal purgatory). It comes with a bit of a mystery, although I must admit I originally purchased the piece because of the lovely portrait and did not realise the little enigma until it was in hand. Domitian as Caesar Æ Dupondius/As, 9.38g Rome mint, 80-81 AD (Titus) Obv: CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: CERES AVGVST; S C in field; Ceres stg. l., with corn ears and torch RIC 333 (R). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from Aegean Numismatics, December 2019. The dupondii struck for Domitian Caesar under Vespasian and Titus have portraits that lack the radiate crown normally associated with that denomination. At times it can be a bit confusing determining if a coin is a dupondius or an As. The new RIC authors firmly assume all the small bronze Ceres types struck for Domitian Caesar under Vespasian and Titus are dupondii and are catalogued as such. This bronze Ceres struck under Titus defies that neat categorisation. The low weight and coppery metal suggests this is actually an As not a dupondius! Confusingly, it is struck on a dupondius sized flan. Regardless, one would assume the average Roman on the street would have treated this coin as an As. Ending 2019 on a sleuthing note - I wouldn't have it any other way!
Very interesting coin, and dilemma. The dies do seem a bit small for the flan used - which gives it an attractive "uncrowded" appearance - as die on dupondius flan (in copper) makes for a nice-looking coin.
Neat coin to finish this year, David! This is the same dilemma that I had with that "unique" coin of Domitian as Caesar (standing Concordia), that I showed to you by PM. In my case, the appearance of the coin, although with a laureate head, is that it was struck in orichalcum.
To me, the opinion of the average Roman far outranks the opinion of museum people who write books. Weight is more important than diameter. Metal is more important that weight. Perhaps this coin was the result of the hammer man having been criticized for slacking off so he hauled off and really hit one to show he could. The idea of dupondii being radiate did not catch on all at once and was outranked by the idea that Caesars did not wear headgear. From this period, I enjoy seeing coins with toning rather than colored patinas that hide the color of the metal. Nice as! Even Vespasian appeared in public minus crown on some coins that are obviously yellow. I believe that 'average Roman on the street' would have treated this coin as a dupondius. I am not sure how we can ever prove the matter one way or another. 10.6g. Is weight really all that important here? How much overlap is allowed before a coin is confusing? This Titus as is 10.9g, red and seems to me to be the definition of 'as'.
I've posted this freak before, but it seems appropriate: Diameter: 32 mm Weight: 13.70 grams Metal: Looks like brass Dies Used: Sestertius dies, presumably. The design takes up the whole, big flan. Denomination: Sestertius struck on a dupondius planchet? Faustina I Æ Sestertius (Struck on dupondius flan?) 3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius (c. 145-150 A.D.) Rome Mint [DIVA] FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGV[ST]A S-C, Ceres standing left with short torch and corn ears. RIC 1118; Cohen 88. (13.70 grams / 32 mm)
I'll take your word for it being "coppery" in hand, but in the photo it looks very much like orichalcum. Guess you'll just have to call it "second brass"!
I too thought it was orichalcum based on the photo. However, in hand it certainly looks like copper. The low weight certainly hints that it's an As too.
