A Damn Fine Domitian To End The Year

Normally, when I'm collecting Domitian's Minerva series I tick the relevant RIC number off my want list and move on to the next coin. To be honest, the only difference between some coins from the same issue is the dating arrangement recorded in the legends.

That isn't the case with my new acquisition. It's not particularly rare, but special note has to be taken of the very fine styled portrait - one of the best I've ever come across of Domitian on a denarius.


Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.30g
Rome mint, 87 AD
RIC 517 (C), BMC 111 , RSC 228
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XIIII COS XIII CENS P P P; Minerva adv. r., with spear and shield (M1)
Acquired from Historiche Münzen & Medaillen, December 2016.

From the Second issue of 87, struck between 14 September and 31 December. Struck on a large flan in beautiful 'Flavian Baroque' style. I can detect the same talented engraver's handiwork on other specimens minted around the same time.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-109628
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-112793

 

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That is a tremendous portrait David. Great coin!

 

Interesting portrait, he looks sad. I like the toning on it.

 

You are absolutely correct about the portrait. We've said it before, but his nose sure got smaller as compared to the start of his reign. Congrats.

 

I know the late ones are more handsome but I suspect the real Domitian was closer to the guy on the earliercoins when his family resemblence was stronger.


My prettiest is a sestertius. Domitian has some very well done AE dies.

 

Thats a killer portrait, nice grab!

 

Both you Bing rightly pick up on the difference between early portraits of Domitian and later ones struck after 82. In 82 when Domitian overhauled the mint he increased both the weight and fineness of the denarius. In addition to the technical changes made, new engravers were brought in and began transitioning to a more idealised style. IMHO, the years 84-88 saw the finest portraits his mint was able to produce. They of course were not accurate portraits and quite the opposite of the veristic style employed under Vespasian and Titus.

 

Here is an early portrait of Domitian as Augustus. Notice the nose.

 

That's a superb portrait on a denarius. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was the same hand at work on the portrait of this bronze of mine.


DOMITIAN
AE As. 10.84g, 29.8mm. Rome mint, AD 85. RIC 421 (R2). O: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS PER P P, laureate head right with aegis. R: S-C in field; Victory flying left with shield inscribed SPQR.

 

I have an example like @dougsmit
Its broken but you can still see the nose.

 

That denarius is from the first few days of Domitian's reign before he was voted Pontifex Maximus and Pater Patriae by the Senate. Being somewhat narcissistic, I bet he must've hated portraits such as that!

 

A very nice coin to add to your collection, I just had a look at your Forum gallery and I am very impressed to say the least, what a huge Flavian collection, fantastic a real eye opener to what one can do when they set their mind to it. Congrats.

 

That's quite the nose job Domitian got in your second Photo.

 

David's new denarius bears an expressive and pleasant portrait of Domitian. The emperor looks serene, perhaps a bit melancholic. A nice coin.
There are many other nice portraits posted in this thread, as well.

It is true that Domitian's portraits vary significantly with regard to their artistry and appearance. I thought this may have something do with whether the coins were struck while Domitian was Caesar (69 to 81), as opposed to during his time as Emperor (81 to 95). However, this does not seem to be the case.

Here are some of my Domitian portraits in his denarii:

 

Sweet last-minute addition, David ... congrats

All I have to add is my lone Domitian example ... Dom The Bomb (88 BC => plastic surgery and all)

 

Some of Domitians's portraits in bronze:

 

Domitian wore the purple for 15 years, so yes, there was a great variety in portrait styles over the course of the reign. Engravers were transferred, died, or perhaps won their freedom (assuming they were slaves). Not to mention some engravers were more talented than others.

As I stated above, I think 84-88 represented the artistic high point for his portraiture on the denarius. The quality control during that time period was superb. Afterwards, the engravers seemed slightly less talented and the craftsmanship a bit sloppier. Occasionally, diamonds in the rough can be found in the later issues, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

 

I never get tired of seeing it Steve (no joke!) because it's in very fine style, similar to the OP coin. If you're going to have one Domitian portrait ... might as well be one in such pleasing style.

 

Great coin to end the year on David! Awesome examples from everyone else. I only got the one Domitian as caesar