1st year Domitian denarius

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orfew, Aug 30, 2021.

  1. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    While not a rare coin, I have been looking for a decent one of these for a while. I find the denarii for Domitian in his first year as Augustus to be very interesting.

    This reverse type also exists for Titus. Many reverses for Titus were also used for Domitian denarii. Also, there are ravens on the reverse which is just really cool.

    The portraits for these early Domitisan denarii vary wildly. Some are really ugly and some are in quite good style. Imho they do not reach the spectacular pinnacle of portraiture achieved on some of the denarii from 84-88 CE. Still, these early portraits are interesting. For example, take a look at the nose of the portrait. This characteristic nose was later sanitized so that Domitian is pictured with a perfect nose on some later denarii.

    Feel free to post your favorite reverse types.




    Domitian (81-96). AR Denarius, 81 AD.
    (17.50mm. 3.11g)
    Obv: Laureate head right; IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG.
    Rev: Tripod with fillets surmounted by two ravens; above, dolphin over wreath. TR P COS VII.
    RIC II-p. 1 (2nd ed.) 5. VF/About VF.
    Purchased from: Artemide Aste Auction 56E. August 29, 2021. Lot 316
    D5.jpg
     
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  3. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..when i saw this reverse...it was love at 1st sight:wacky: IMG_0624.JPG IMG_0626.JPG L. Rubrius Dossenus denarius, 87BC, OBV. Bearded Jupiter facing right, scepter behind, RV:triumphal carpentum quadriga, lighting bolt within, Victory top right, 18mm,3.49gms Ref. Crawford 348/1
     
  4. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    Tough to tell what is my favorite reverse, but I try to avoid the "standard" somebody seated or standing reverse.
    I would say I like the most the Trajan Column reverse, I am quite happy with the denarius I managed to win recently, I posted it already a few times.

    A reverse I like is the pontifical implements type.

    upload_2021-8-30_22-5-26.png

    upload_2021-8-30_22-5-59.png

    upload_2021-8-30_22-6-30.png
     
  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Some of the cooler reverse types are the "zoo" coins of Gallienus. And the coolest of the zoo is this one!

    Gallienus LIBERO P CONS AVG tiger antoninianus Naumann.jpg
     
  6. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Nice pick up @Orfew......Here's my 1st year Domitian, you probably recognise it and still one of my favourite Denarius...
    Domitian. 81-96 AR Denarius (3.17 gm, 18mm). Rome mint. Struck 81 AD.
    Obv.: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, laureate head right.
    Rev.: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P, tripod surmounted by a dolphin right. RICII# 74.
    These early type portraits are my favourite and coupled with an interesting reverse, the tripod and dolphin, being symbols of Apollo.

    DOMITIAN WHITE.jpg
     
    Limes, Carl Wilmont, Orfew and 7 others like this.
  7. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Oh yes… I recognize that one. I am still missing a d74 from my trays. You can’t beat the great portrait with an interesting reverse
     
    Spaniard likes this.
  8. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    Nice coin, @Orfew! Here's that Titus version that you mentioned.

    upload_2021-8-31_18-6-47.png
    upload_2021-8-31_18-7-45.png

    TITUS (79-81). Denarius. Rome. 80 AD.
    Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM.
    Laureate head right.
    Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII PP.
    Tripod with fillets, upon which sit two ravens and wreath surmounted by dolphin.
     
  9. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Very nice! Thanks for posting it here
     
    Carl Wilmont likes this.
  10. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Congratulations @Orfew! Neat portrait too. I have many favorite reverse types, so its difficult to choose. I think this post calls for one very neat reverse type, with a Domitian as Caesar obverse. I don't know why this coins features Pegasus though, is it a symbol for some event?
    16.2.png
     
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