I am always on the lookout for Domitian denarii with PONT in the obverse legend. Every Domitian denarius that includes PONT is either very rare or ridiculously rare. It has been over 1.5 years since I have added a PONT. I saw one sell last month or the month before through Numismatik Naumann.True it was a very rare group 2 PONT denarius, but group 3 PONT denarii are also very rare. The Naumann coin sold for 1500 Euro plus fees. This one popped up on MA-Shops yesterday and I grabbed it as fast as I could. Thanks to Jay for alerting me to the posting of a number of Domitian denarii. I was not interested in most of them but then again this is not most coins. I know of 5 other examples of this coin. This coin gives me an excuse to finish a paper I am writing on the first year denarii of Domitian. I have been wanting to add another of these interesting coins. I have also been lucky enough to add several more interesting first year denarii ion the last year or so. Please post a coin that you have purchased that took you more than a year to find. Domitian AR Denarius 81 CE (Group 3) (3.22g) Obv: Head laureate right; IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PONT Rev: Draped seat, Semi-circular frame with crescents; COS VII DES VIII PP RIC 31; BMC 7; RSC 59 Purchased from Munzencontor Kornblum on MA-Shops
I could have bought it for myself but I have too many Domitians I have a Titus and Vespasian on the way so it's all good. Glad you got it, enjoy!
Glad you found this one. The style is very good and the toning beautiful. I am curious about your paper. Where are you going to publish it?
I am going to upload it to my academia.edu account. It is not really an academic paper. It is an exploration of my collection with some musings about the mysteries with Domitian's first year denarii. It also has the PONT denarii as one focus. I have not been able to find anything written about these coins in particular. First year denarii of Domitian say something I think about the transition from the rule of Titus to that of Domitian. For example, The denarii of 81 CE for Domitian copy many revers types for Titus. I think this means sense because the death of Titus was sudden and the mints would have had to strike coins immediately.Just a theory of course but one of the things I have been thinking about.
Fantastic coin Orfew, has really nice portrait, and detailed reverse. I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the material offered on MA Shops. I recently bought two from Andreas Fenzl/ one from Dirk Loebbers/ Germany. The grading is exceptional. John
Agreed. Same obv. die as mine too. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-85253
Thanks to both @curtislclay and @David Atherton . I had not taken a close look at the photo in the RIC plates before. Yes I think you are both correct.The key for me was the knot at the back of the head and the angle of the crescents on the reverse.
Well the coin arrived today and it is a stunner. You can see hints of blue toning in the hair and in the legend between the d and m.