I recently acquired this fairly common semis of Domitian struck at Antioch. Domitian Æ Semis, 6.48g Antioch mint, 81-83 Obv: IMP DOMITIANVS CAES AVG; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, l. Rev: S • C in laurel wreath RPC 2024 (11 spec.). Domitian's Antiochene leaded bronze S C issue was likely struck before 83 since the legends lack the title Germanicus. K. Butcher speculates the S C coinage struck earlier under Vespasian was melted down and recycled for Domitian's brief issue as Augustus, perhaps explaining the former's relative scarcity. Although these portraits do not come draped, it appears there is a bit of drapery(?) below the wreath ties. It would be unprecedented if that is the case! Opinions?
There are 18 specimen on RPC online (only with 4 pictures) and 15 on acsearch. Maybe a comparaison between these examples could help.
Very nice, @David Atherton . I do not collect these after the Republic. However, I really did not realize that the Emperor's portraits were on the lower denominations. To me, yours is pretty cool!
