Coming across any coins from Domitian's massive Minerva denarius series that are unusual can be very exciting. My latest addition is happily one of those fascinating coins! Domitian AR Denarius, 3.45g Rome mint, 88 AD RIC 562 (R). BMC 141. RSC 67. Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERMANICVS; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: COS XIIII across field; Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2) Ex Spink eAuction 18055, 7 November 2018, The Michael Kelly Collection of Roman Coins part 2, lot 95. In 88 AD Domitian struck a brief special issue of Minerva denarii with unusual obverse legends and austere reverse designs. The obverse legends deviate from the usual formula, sometimes spelling out fully DOMITIANVS and/or GERMANICVS and lacking a TR P number. The reverses feature only a terse legend across field with the IMP number absent. Here is an example from this rare issue with GERMANICVS spelled out on the obverse and the consular number across field on the reverse. Why the mint was experimenting with the legends and the layout of the reverses in 88 is a mystery. Perhaps the issue was struck in conjunction with a special event that year (the Secular Games?) and are commemorative in nature. Regardless, the mint soon returned the denarius to its conventional Minerva arrangement, hinting that these scarce issues were indeed struck for a special occasion. For contrast, here is a 'normal' contemporaneous Minerva. Domitian AR Denarius, 3.42g Rome mint, 88 AD RIC 572 (C3). BMC 115. RSC 235. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IMP XIIII COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva, adv. r. (M1) Ex Gemini X, 13 January 2013, Harry N. Sneh Collection, group lot 806. Ex Helios, November 2010 (A. Lynn Collection). Feel free to post your 'deviant' coins.
Like Domitian, Septimius Severus' Syrian mint "Emesa" had several variations on the Minerva theme but all of his were scarce compared to other types. Of them, the most unusual was this one showing Minerva holding an owl.
A beautiful coin, David. I like that clean look without all of Domitian's usual legends. In contrast, here's a Domitian Minerva fourrée that looks pretty terrible.
Man, what a beautiful coin! The (mostly) stand-alone Minerva is much more attractive to my eye than the typical varieties with full legend around perimeter, and appeals to me in the same way that the first US "Seated Liberty" coinage lacking stars around Liberty are interesting to my eye. (From internet) Now I am very curious about the nature of the reverse legend, and hope you can explain it. What is the meaning of the horizontal bar or "I" above the "XIIII"? Is it supposed to represent part of the number? The centering of the horizontal bar over the much more bold first 3 "III" numerals and the weakness of the 4th "I" makes my uneducated eye think that the die-cutters employed an unusual layout for the number 14, and then hastily modified the die with a 5th weak "I" to continue using the die during Domitian's 15th consulship. I'm probably wrong but such is life in ignorance, I'd be quite interested to know what it means. Thanks for sharing!
Here is my deviant coin, one you have all seen before. It is a rare bare headed Vespasian portrait. There are only 2 types of denarii with a bare head 853 and 773. There are to my knowledge 2 of these (RIC 773) known and @David Atherton has the other one. Mine also happens to be the RIC reference coin. RIC 773
Fantastic coin. The closest I have come was this one that I used to own.... From a contemporary issue but a different Minerva.
The line indicates those are numerals and not letters. This type with legend across field is only known for the COS XIIII issue, hence no possible earlier dies.
Of course this should read: 'Minerva adv r., with spear and shield (M1)'. I have no idea why I copied and pasted the wrong Minerva type! Although, I admit it was posted before my morning cuppa.
OK, thank you! So for clarification, the horizontal line is a standard element used across Roman coinage to denote that the characters below are numerals? This site is great, I love being able to satisfy the hunger for fresh knowledge by picking your brains here. Thanks for helping me along!
1:34: " ... Everybody got mixed feelings About the function and the form Everybody got to deviate from the norm ..." Sorry. Once I read that title, the song lyric burrowed into my brain, and there it shall remain for the rest of the day, surely. (But hey - better a classic Rush tune than the Oscar Mayer Weiner jingle.) Slightly more topical: I personally would have difficulty establishing a baseline for what "the norm" is, ancient coins being so variable as they are. But I suppose that's easier for you specialists who focus exclusively on one dynasty, emperor, or type.
Lots of interesting variety! First OP coin is amazing. Here's my deviant Domitian denarius: a limes denarius. Close to the "normal" posted by @David Atherton but with a Minerva shield at her side: 88 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP VIII, laureate head right Rev: IMP XIIII COS XIIII CENS PPP, Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at her side
