The Alexandrian coinage struck for Domitian is rich in reverse types and very diverse in its iconography. Recently, I was able to obtain a very appealing diobol struck early in his reign. Domitian Æ Diobol, 7.76g Alexandria mint, 83-84 AD Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: ΕΤΟΥΣ ΤΡΙΤΟΥ; bust of Isis, r. RPC 2490 (14 spec.). Acquired from Ken Dorney, June 2020. The reverse types employed on Domitian's Alexandrian coinage was a mix of both Greek and native Egyptian types. This diobol struck in regnal year 3 features a bust of the goddess Isis wearing a headdress of cow horns enclosing a sun disk. The cult of Isis was very popular during the First Century and was given a particular boost by the Flavians, likely owing to Vespasian's lengthy sojourn in Alexandria prior to his arrival in Rome. During the Civil War of 69 while the Vitellians were besieging the Capitol, Domitian sought refuge in the Temple of Isis. Suetonius tells us he was taken in by a temple attendant and escaped the next day disguised as one of the Isiac worshippers in a procession. Domitian did much to promote the cult of Isis in Italy during his reign, most likely owing to this event. This Egyptian style statue of Domitian as Pharaoh is actually from a temple of Isis in Beneventum, Italy. Domitian erected a pair of obelisks at the temple in 88. One is still standing in the Piazza Papiniano. On the obelisk is Domitian's Egyptian royal titular. Horus Name: 'The mighty youth, his power will be stronger' Golden Horus Name: 'Rich in years and great of victories' Throne Name: 'Horus, son of Isis, beloved of the gods' Nomen: 'The Venerable Dominitianus Caesar' Feel free to post your Roman Pharaohs!
Quite by chance in my humble collection there is such a coin. On the reverse side, in my image is the god of the Nile River. There was a whole series of coins: on the one hand emperors, and on the other, various deities of ancient Egypt.
PHARAOH OTHO Roman Imperial Egypt, Alexandria. Otho. Jan. - Apr., CE 69. Billon AR Tetradrachm, 23mm, 11.9gms; Year 1; Egypt-Alexandria. Obv.:AVTOK MAΓ OΘΩNOΣ KAIΣ ΣEB; Laureate head right, L A in right field Rev: RΩ-MA; Helmeted, cuirassed bust of Roma right. Emmett 186 Ex: @John Anthony
I guess you could say he was "rattled." Sorry. Anyway, here are some Isis cult rattles from her Pompeii temple, now in the Archeological Museum in Naples. The best primary text of the Isis cult in Rome is the final book of Apuleius's METAMORPHOSES recording initiation into that mystery.
NERO AR Billon Tetradrachm OBVERSE: NERW KLAV KAIS SEB GER, radiate bust right, wearing aegis REVERSE: AVTOKPA, draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant skin headdress, LIB to right, year 12 Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 65/6AD 10.8g, 28mm Köln 172-174; Curtis 36-54, Dattari 204, SGI 633, RPC 5289.
Interesting post. I guess it makes more sense now why he struck my Great Sphinx coin. Only Domitian and Hadrian, (the great world traveler), struck them as far as I know.
Very nice Isis reverse, David! And as always, great write-up! I don't have an Isis reverse, but an Alexandria reverse diobol: Domitian, Ruled 81-96 AD AE Diobol, Egypt, Alexandria Struck 88/89 AD Obverse: AYTOK KAIΣAP Δ•MITIANOE ΣEB ΓEPM, laureate head right. Reverse: Draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant headdress, date ΕΤΟVΣ ΟΓΔΟΟV as legend, RY 8. (Original collector’s envelope is misattributed.) References: Emmett 278 (reverse unlisted for this year) Size: 23mm, 7.7g Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)
PHARAOH TRAJAN RI Trajan Egypt AE Dichalkon Laureate hd L Rhinoceros walking L LI-Z yr 17 CE 113-114 12.9mm 1.25g Emmet 719 var. rhino right
Thank you! I did a heap of research on the Isis cult during the Roman Era, however, I did not include much of it because it strayed too far from numismatics. The upside - it was the first time I was able to put to use a two volume work on Roman religion I acquired a couple of weeks ago.
That is a great coin David. I only have one Alexandrian Domitian. However, it is the Dattari plate coin and also appears on RPC online. Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Domitian, 81-96 Diobol circa 89-90 (year 9), Æ 24.7mm., 15.53g. Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ; Laureate head r. Rev. ETOYΣ ENATOTOY Eagle standing r. on thunderbolt. RPC 2566 (this coin cited as example #3 on RPC online). Dattari-Savio Pl. 22, 6809 (this coin). Rare, only two other specimens listed in RPC. Brown tone, Good Fine. From the Dattari collection. Ex; Naville Numismatics Live auction 51 Lot 30
LOL, EVERYtime I see that attribution, I think of this show I used to watch! I have a DAKTARI also! Livia plate coin beside Dattari Rubbings of same coin.
PHARAOH CLAUDIUS RProv Valeria Messalina m-Claudius 41-54 CE Alexandria BI Tet yr 42-43 13.1g 25mm RPC I 5131
Good luck. I had that same thought 20 years ago. Finally got mine last month. A generic sphinx is easy enough. Great Sphinx? Not many at all, and lots of competition. Get very pricey above a coin with only an outline, (grade Good-VG).
