Another Dull Domitian?

The collecting guidelines for my Flavian collection are simple: With bronze it's a representative approach, acquiring coins that are historical, iconic, or interesting in some way. With silver it's a systematic approach, an attempt to be as comprehensive as possible. There is a danger with the latter approach of acquiring what some may call 'dull' coins. Hopefully this Domitian denarius doesn't meet that criteria!


Domitian
AR Denarius, 2.85g
Rome mint, 81 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P; Seat, draped; above, semicircular frame decorated with three crescents
RIC 67 (R). BMC p. 301 note. RSC 573. BNC -.
Ex A. Short Collection, December 2021. Ex Savoca Blue Auction 29, 23 February 2020, lot 1228.

There was a tremendous amount of denarii struck for Domitian in the last few months of 81 after he became emperor in mid September, probably for donatives to the legions. The early coinage of Domitian continues in the same style as those struck under Titus using many of his pulvinaria reverse types. This reverse featuring a throne with a semi-circular frame decorated with three crescents is a fairly rare variant of the type, missing from both the BM and Paris collections. The slight rainbow toning adds a touch of charm to the piece.

Feel free to post your own 'dull' coins!

 

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A bargain Domitian.
Is it even attributable? I'm leaning towards COS XII

 

Either RIC 726 (COS XV) or RIC 732 (COS XVI). Hard to tell with the consular date off flan or unreadable, but I'm leaning toward RIC 732.

 

I value all coins of romes most competent tyrant but sadly dont have many yet. I dont know what makes your coin "dull" because I really like it - but anyways here a quite worn bargain denarius I purchased this year:
Domitian Caesar - Denarius - CERES AVGVST

 

A dull Domitian with a very lifelike portrait. It was my first ever purchase on ma-shops!

 

Nice catch David! Perhaps when it comes to 'dull coins', I thought of this one of Vespasian. Then again, it's not dull, because I have the same reverse type of his heir, Titus

 

Oh, I don't! But I can understand why some folks would say "Not another Domitian!".

At least it isn't a Minerva reverse!

 

I have a bizarre Domitian.
It is in bronze, looks like an as, but is a monster.



AE 26 mm, 7.40 g
Obv.: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PM, but counter-clockwise! laureate head right
Rev.: eagle on globe, S C.
In fact the reverse is like an as of Vespasian, and the obverse like Domitian's silver and gold coins of 81-82 AD, just larger, but not at all like his bronze coins.
The patina seems OK. If this is a modern fake, the style is good and the patina really well-made ! But why a forger so talented would he create such a monster?

Or maybe an ancient imitation? I've never seen a parallel specimen, or a bronze Domitian with a counter-clockwise legend.

 

This coin may qualify as dull but nothing is really dull about the V-Man

 

Just another action-packed, thrill-a-minute Faustina I with Ceres standing!

 

Not sure this is a pulvinaria type exactly, but it is the same timeframe as the OP (Domitian still a Caesar though):


Domitian (Caesar) Denarius
(80-81 A.D.)
Rome Mint
CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVEN[TVTIS], helmet on altar.
RIC 271 (Titus); RSC 399a.
(3.19 grams / 18 x 16 mm)
eBay Sep. 2013

 

This Domitian is one of the coins I wondered "why did you buy this?"
But I am not bothered by bad condition (although that big scratch is a turn off) - as the type is somehow scarce



Domitian (Caesar, 69-81) AR Denarius, Rome, 77-78
CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS - laureate head right
Rev: COS V - Soldier on horseback rearing right, raising right hand.
RIC 957 (Vespasian); C 49a
Old RIC 242
2,57 g, 18 mm

 

My Domitian:

Domitian. A.D. 70-96. AR denarius 19mm. Rome. IMPCAESDOMITAVG GERM PMT TR P XII /REVERSE IMP XXI COS XV CENS P PP Minerva advancing right aiming spear holding shield.

 

GinoLR's "Monster": Two asses with the same counterclockwise obv. legend and bust type, but rev. FIDES PVBLICAE (sic, should be PVBLICA without final E), this erroneous legend erroneously combined with rev. type Fortuna rather than Fides standing, are recorded as ancient imitations by RIC, Domitian 488, note 46, citing FMRD VI.1.1., p. 589, no. 168, and Poinsignon List 44, Oct. 1999, no. 830.

It would be interesting to compare the obv. dies, but I don't have easy access to the Poinsignon list, and the FMRD example is presumably unillustrated in the publication, since Carradice and Buttrey omit any plate reference.

 

Thank you ! FMRD VI.1.1 means that a specimen of these "monsters" has been found in Cologne, Germany... Interesting ! These coins may well be ancient Western imitations circulating in Gaul and Germany...

 

Given the placement of what appears to be a deliberate cut, I wonder if it's actually damnatio memoriae after Domitian was disposed? If so, it's really a cool coin!

 

The thought has crossed my mind, but I think this is just "normal" damage.

 

It is, struck as Caesar under Titus. The type didn't make the jump to him as Augustus.

 

This dupondius IS a Minerva reverse and struck so poorly that it is almost interesting. Add to that 'barbarous' and the question is how much worse can they get but still qualify as interesting. I like this better than MS examples of the common Minerva denarii but I can understand why there is no market demand for this sort of thing.

 

How about a "bright" Domitian:

DOMITIAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right
REVERSE: COS IIII, The Pegasus standing right with raising left foreleg
Struck at Rome, 76AD
3.1g, 20mm
RIC 921