I never thought I would own it. Ever since the publication of RIC II.1 in late 2007, I have had a tremendous appreciation for a unique Domitian/Titus mint mule denarius published for the first time within its pages. Miraculously, it showed up in trade last month! Needless to say I had to have the piece. A 'grail' coin if ever there was one! Domitian AR Denarius, 3.35g Rome mint, 81 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod with fillets; above, ravens, l. and r., and dolphin over wreath RIC 6 (R3, this coin). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk, MBS 224, lot 139. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex CNG, Auction 70, 21 September 2005, lot 910. A unique mint mule combining a first issue Domitian obverse with a reverse die used for Titus' last issue. This coin may help clear up a long debated mystery concerning the date of Titus' last denarius issue. Curtis Clay explains: 'Titus' gold and silver coinage is regarded as having ended before 1 July 80, over a year before he died, since his latest aurei and denarii all bear the title TR P IX, and his ninth tribunician year ended on 1 July 80. A fourteen-month gap in the precious metal coinage is strange in this era, however, and if we follow Mattingly in postulating that the attested fire in Rome in 80 destroyed the mint, so interrupting its production, it seems a remarkable coincidence that the mint was finally repaired, and ready to resume production using the same "pulvinar" types that it had been striking for Titus early in 80, precisely when Titus died and Domitian assumed the throne in Sept. 81! Judging from Domitian's earliest coinage, one would have thought that the mint must still have been producing pulvinar coins for Titus just before he died, despite the title TR P IX. That this was in fact the case seems to be proven by a mule which emerged in 2005, RIC Domitian 6, pl. 117, showing Domitian's earliest obv. legend as Augustus, IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG, coupled with a pulvinar reverse type of Titus, TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, Tripod with dolphin, wreath, and ravens above. This mule strongly suggests that pulvinar coins were being struck for Titus just before he died: it's difficult to believe that an old die of before 1 July 80 had somehow survived the supposed fire, and just happened to be available for use by Domitian fourteen months later! But why continued use of the outdated title? In Sept. 81 Titus was TR P XI, not IX!' This unique specimen is the plate coin in RIC II.1. It is also discussed in RIC's introduction to Titus' coinage: '... a recently discovered mint mule combines a reverse of Titus' last denarius issue with an obverse of the first issue of Domitian's reign in late 81 (Dom no. 6). Mules usually combine dies in parallel or at least in closely contemporaneous use, which might imply here that the Titus TRP IX IMP XV COS VIII dies continued to be used after the assumption of TR P X, and perhaps even into 81. In sum, while the titulature of Titus is of the first half of 80, the sheer scale of the coinage produced for Titus COS VIII and Domitian COS VII, and the fact that following Domitian's accession the mint was very active in the period September to December 81, suggests 80-81 (p. 185)'. It must be noted that prior to this coin's discovery in 2005, Titus' last denarius issue had previously been dated by the major references to the first half of 80. Sometimes a coin can change history. The numismatic and historical importance of the piece, combined with its aesthetic beauty, places it at or near the top of my list of all time favourite coins. A most thrilling acquisition! In hand. Here it is pictured next to the RIC plate photo. And if there is any lingering doubt about the Domitian RIC 6 reverse die being an actual working die for Titus' last denarius issue, here is the same reverse die paired with a Titus obverse (not my coin). Please feel free to share your own 'grail' coins. As always, thank you for looking!
The rarity of the muling and variety and so forth would have eluded me (I'm very lightweight in the scholarly stuff), but the look of the coin itself is enough to admire. Nice cabinet toning, and it seems well-centered and struck, too.
It's great that you previously, independently knew "this coin" from RIC. Like it was "meant to be." I feel that certain coins "belong" in certain collections; this is a great illustration. My first thought, as I hurriedly watch-listed all the Curtis Clay coins published in the new RIC II: Which of these will Atherton find first and which can I mull over? My other thought: Most of these important mules and rare legend varieties probably don't belong with me. I did consider two exceptions from this first batch of the collection, since I collect captives coinage: Lot 98, the Titus/Vespasian Judaea Capta mule / RIC "Plate Coin" (especially) & Lot 97, kneeling captive, rare var (maybe). (For some reason, if I don't get them, I still want to know who did, so I hope one/both of those were you!) I have a few "second bite at the apple" coins that I had missed when first sold. But that's a bit different.... Here's the one coin I can think of where: (1) I admired it when it was published in a reference volume; and (2) completely unexpectedly, encountered it in commerce; and (3) managed to acquire it. I show it all the time -- sorry! Constantine IV "Pogonatus" AV Solidus. "Cover Coin" for ERIC II by Rasiel Suarez. I couldn't believe it when it came up for sale at CNG EA 484, 978. And I really couldn't believe no on was outbidding me! I got ERIC II when it came out (gifted by my father), used it all the time for reference (e.g., to look up RIC nos., since I didn't have a set), and always thought the coin on the cover was really cool looking, and an amazing photo. I spent a lot of time looking at that cover, puzzling over how a portrait that lacks "realism" and many qualities we associate with technical merit, could still be so expressive and vivid and lifelike and haunting. (Like those "Scooby-Doo" paintings where the eyes follow you! Except -- maybe it's just me -- I always kinda felt like Constantine IV was judging me... Do yourself a favor and don't stare into his eyes too long!!)
Beautiful coin Curtis! Just wow. So you know the feeling too! Regarding the two Titus denarii you linked - I already have both varieties, so it wasn't me who purchased them. I am curious who did!
Oh wow, I'm honored and flattered that my former Constantine IV has found its way into such devoted hands. If you ever think of selling it please give me a shot. It was one of only two coins I ever had that I didn't consider selling. Then one day I said "eff it" and sent 'em all to CNG (one of that year's most spectacular errors in judgment). Seeing it again with that sort of commentary erases 99% of the guilt! Rasiel Ps. sorry, didn't mean to threadjack. Genuinely wasn't expecting to see this solidus again. Your Domitian is awesome! I'm always happy to see people gushing over what makes their particular collectible so special :- )
