My latest arrival has a most fetching portrait of Domitian from his youth. He was in his early 20s and in the prime of life and perhaps not so paranoid about an assassin's blade. Domitian as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ Dupondius, 11.09g Rome mint, 73-74 AD Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II; Head of Domitian, laureate, draped, bearded, r. Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA; S C in field; Felicitas stg. l., with caduceus and cornucopiae RIC 658 (C). BMC p. 157 note *. BNC 693. Acquired from CGB.fr, September 2020. A stylish dupondius struck for Domitian Caesar in either 73 or 74 from one of his earliest bronze issues at Rome. The dupondii from this issue are laureate instead of radiate and can be differentiated from the asses by the draped busts and metal content (yellowish orichalcum). The Felicitas on the reverse symbolises the prosperity and abundance the Flavian dynasty has brought to the empire. It is certainly one of the most abundant reverse types of Vespasian's reign. Surprisingly, this common Domitian Caesar Felicitas is missing from the BM's extensive collection. It certainly helps that the engraver who worked on the obverse had talent to spare and rendered a wonderful portrait in fine style. Show off your 'fine style' portraits!
That really is a great portrait. To my eye the style is not just great but quite unusual - but since I'm not a Flavian guy I could easily be wrong about that. My finest style Flavian portrait is a Titus:
Nice one, David. I notice you have "as" in the description under the photo - it is a dupondius though? The non-radiate dupondii tend to confuse me. Here is a Felicitas dupondius of Vespasian, from around the same time - I guess when you are the Augustus you get to wear the radiate crown: Vespasian Æ Dupondius (74 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left / FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 716; Cohen 152. (10.30 grams / 26 mm)
Nice portrait indeed! I got the one below due to it's portrait: stylized and quite exalted. Especially in comparison to some of his early portraits, as Caesar.
It must've confused me as well when I typed the attribution! LOL It is fixed in the post now. Thank you.
Very nice new addition, David. This bronze of Vespasian from Antioch is my favorite Flavian portrait. Vespasian, Antioch, 'Dupondius' (Bronze, 26 mm, 15.71 g). Laureate head of Vespasian to left./ Rev. Large S C within laurel wreath. RPC II 2009. (When I was double-checking the reference, I just saw that my coin is now illustrated in the RPC online. Pretty cool!) https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/150750
Very nice,@David Atherton . Dad RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left
OH! Uncle...Dom... RI Julia Flavia Titi Diva 90-91 CE daughter-Titus / -uncle Domitian AE Sestertius 33mm 20.4g - Carpentum pulled by MULES SPQR - SC
Domitian, as Caesar, AD 69-81. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.23g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck under Titus, AD 80-81. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Crested Corinthian helmet on draped pulvinar. Ref: RIC II 271 (Titus); RSC 399a. Ex CNG.
Here are a few nice portraits. Nerva, tetradrachm, Antioch Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, sestertius Caracalla, tetradrachm, Antioch Julia Mamaea, sestertius
I forgot that I had quite a nice (but much more typical) portrait of Domitian as Caesar in AE (under Titus, Spes reverse):
