I was strictly a Flavian silver guy for many years. As the number of available silver coins in trade I needed to add to my collection dwindled I moved into collecting Flavian bronze as well. Even today, not many Flavian silvers come up that I need to add. Fortunately I recently came across this little beauty which was missing from my collection. Domitian AR Denarius, 3.42g Rome mint, 85 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POT P P; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear; shield at her side (M3) RIC 336 (R2). BMC 79. RSC 178 (no aegis). BNC -. Acquired from Esty, February 2020. Ex CNG 440, 20 March 2019, lot 721 (part). In 82 Domitian increased the silver fineness of the denarius to nearly 100% purity. Three years later in mid 85 the fineness was again adjusted, this time downward to c. 90%, presumably for monetary or fiscal reasons. Domitian also assumed the powers of censor in April of 85 which was recorded on the coinage. The title was successively contracted in three issues - CENSORIA POTESTAT, CENS POTES, and CENS POT. According to metal analyses by Walker and more recently confirmed by Butcher and Ponting, Domitian's second coinage reform took place between the last two issues - the CENS POT issue being the first under the new standard. All of these denarii from the fourth issue of 85 are extremely scarce and were struck with both an aegis and non aegis portrait. The aegis portraits are somewhat more desirable. Show off your aegises!
That's a nice looking coin!...I'm no into 'shiny' so the toning really appeals....The potrait of Domitian is really good but what stands out for me is the head of Minerva...Nice nice!
Lovely style on that Domitian, David. Congratulations. I acquired this full-frontal aegis from the last Triton sale: Rome, Moneyers of the Imperatorial Period. M. Cordius Rufus, 46 BCE. AR Denarius (3.55g; 18mm). Rome Mint. Obverse: Crested Corinthian helmet facing right, with owl perched on crest; RVFVS behind. Reverse: M·CORDIVS; aegis with head of Medusa. Reference: Crawford 463/2; HCRI 64; Sydenham 978; BMCRR 4042; Cordia 4. Provenance: Ex Jack Frazer Collection [Triton XXIII (14 Jan 2020) Lot 603]; CNG 64 (24 Sep 2003) Lot 827. Caesar celebrated multiple triumphs in 46 BCE, and the large output by the moneyers Carisius and M. Cordius Rufus may have been to pay the largesse owed to the legionaries. The coinage of 46 BCE often alludes to Caesar, rather than the moneyer’s family. On this coin, we see references to Minerva (the helmet, owl and aegis being among her attributes), the Roman goddess of strategic warfare, which likely related to Caesar’s military triumphs. M. Cordius Rufus is not generally known beyond his coinage. However, his name appears on an inscription found at Tusculum, identifying Manius Cordius Rufus and his titles. It is possible that his family originated in Tusculum, a city in the Alban Hills, sixteen miles southeast of Rome.
Great find David. I've shown this one a few times but it does have a great Aegis RPC II 1978 Domitian tetradrachm AVT KAIΣAΡ ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣEB ΓEΡM Laureate head right; aegis at point of bust ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY H (date; year 8) Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, with wings spread; palm frond to right. SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch, 88/89 AD 13.61g; 29 mm McAlee 398; Prieur 145; RPC II 1978. Ex-Zurqieh
Here's one of mine: Domitian (Augustus) Coin: Bronze As IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS PER P P - Bust of Domitian, laureate, right with aegis MONETA AVGVSTI S-C - Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Exergue: Mint: Rome (85AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 11.55g / 28mm / 180 References: RIC II, Pt 1 (second edition) Domitian 417 Acquisition/Sale: servuscoins Ebay $0.00 11/17 Notes: Jan 22, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
That's a nice one! I love the coins from 85 AD. I hope to pick up one of these 85s soon. However, they are difficult and popular.
This AE As was struck in 85 AD DOMITIAN AE As OBVERSE: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT P P, laureate head right, aegis at tip of bust REVERSE: MONETA AVGVSTI, S-C, Moneta standing left, holding scales & cornucopiae Struck at Rome, 85AD 11.7g, 27mm RIC 384
