Mystery Mint Mars

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Feb 12, 2021.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    I almost forgot about this one. What with acquiring a major 'grail' coin last week and working on yet another (stay tuned!), this big beauty was sitting at the bottom of the 'to go through pile' in its mailer. It deserves better!


    T509-.jpg
    Domitian as Caesar [Titus]
    Æ Sestertius, 24.47g
    Eastern mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD
    Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
    Rev: S C in field; Mars, with cloak over shoulders, adv. r., with spear and trophy
    RIC 509 (R2). BMC p. 296 *. RPC 505. BNC 326.
    Acquired from Aegean, January 2021.

    An unidentified Eastern mint struck coins for Titus and Domitian as Caesar sometime between 80-81 AD. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, massive reverse figures), and uncommon fabric (flat, almost convex flans) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. The striking of imperial bronze outside of Rome was an exceptional step at the time considering the last imperial branch mint at Lugdunum had shuttered late in Vespasian's reign. The issue consisted of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses which copied types struck at Rome. This very rare sestertius produced for Domitian as Caesar copies the more commonly found Mars type contemporaneously struck for Titus at this mint. Missing from the BM's extensive collection.

    Admittedly, the coin is not the most beautiful example out there, but in hand it certainly has its charms!
     
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  3. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    TitusSestPax.jpg
    Titus. 79-81 AD. Æ Sestertius. (33mm; 25.81 gm; 7h). Uncertain mint in Thrace. Struck 80-81 AD. Obv: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII, laureate head right. Rev: PAX AVGVST, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopia; S C across field. RIC II 498; RPC 501.
     
  4. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Superb example! Most of these are seen quite worn.
     
  5. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Nice one David. I really like the look of your example.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  6. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    Yes, here are 2 Domitian Jupiter sestertii in my collection:

    P1170347b (3).jpg P1170347bb (2).jpg
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    My most photogenic Mars coin is this denarius of Trajan.

    [​IMG]

    Trajan, AD 98-117
    Roman AR denarius; 2.95 gm, 20 mm
    Rome, AD 114-117
    Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right
    Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy
    Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536-40; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819.
     
  8. nicholasz219

    nicholasz219 Well-Known Member

    A really interesting coin and post. It’s intriguing to think the imperial authorities would set up production mint what they needed and shut it down.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  9. ro1974

    ro1974 Well-Known Member

    Great coin weldone
    my coin

    _DSC5x527.jpg _DSC5x525.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2021
    Bing, PeteB, Roman Collector and 2 others like this.
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