An Altar By Any Other Name

This has been a summer of cistophori for me. Last month I was able to score a rare Titus cistophorus and recently I acquired this Domitian as Caesar cistophorus from the same issue.


Domitian as Caesar
AR Cistophorus, 10.77g
Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
RIC T517 (R), BMC T150, RSC 95, RPC 862 (6 spec.)
Obv: DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, r.
Rev: DIVO VESP across field; Altar shrine
Acquired from Numiscorner, July 2017.

A fairly scarce Domitian Caesar cistophorus struck under Titus. The reverse honours the divine Vespasian and shows what catalogues have traditionally called a 'large altar' - in fact what the reverse depicts is a shrine in the shape of an altar. The doors, columns, and steps are strong evidence that what we are seeing is a building and not an altar. How the shrine related to the Temple of the Divine Vespasian is unknown. For the arguments concerning the altar reverse, see Marvin Tameanko's Monumental Coins pp. 214-221.

Struck on a large flan (25.7mm) in fine style and good metal. This is quite a beauty in hand!

Here is a common Domitian as Caesar denarius struck under Titus that actually does depict a large altar and not a shrine. There is a big difference.


Domitian as Caesar
AR Denarius, 3.49g
Rome Mint, 80-81 AD
RIC T266 (C2), BMC T92, RSC 397a
Obv: CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS; Altar, garlanded and lighted


Please share any altar/shrine coins you may have.

 

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Great pick up, with nice detail. I agree about them not being "large altars" I believe they are a shrine or enclosure like this Augustus Ara Pacis on the banks of the Tiber.

 

An awesome coin!

 

That's a really handsome piece, David. A cistophorus has yet to come my way, so I can only imagine how pleasing that must feel in hand.

 

WOW!! What a wonderful example!! LOVE the style and devices!! The shrine and portrait are terrific!!

My modest denarius of Domitian and the 'flamed altar':

 

Amazing coin David. With that great portrait an unusual reverse I am sure this coin will take a proud position in your superb collection.

 

RI Augustus DIVUS under Tiberius 22-23 CE Radiate Alter


RI Carus 282-283 CE AE 18mm Consecratio Flaming Alter


India Gujarat Chalukyas Gadhaiya Paisa BI Drachm 11th C CE Sun Moon Fire Alter Crescent


RR Rubrius AR Quinarius Donnsenus 87 BC Neptune Victory alter snake Aesculapius S261 Cr 348-4


Persian Sassanian Ardashir III 628-629 CE AR Drachm 36mm 3.85g Zoroastrian Fire Alter Gobl II-1 yr 2 Delta RARE


RR AR Denarius 3.88g L Pomponius Molo 97 BCE Rome Apollo Numa Pompilius stdng Lituus alter sacrifice goat Cr 334-1 Syd 607

 

A great addition, congrats.

 

Nice one David. You say minted in Rome for Asia. Wouldn't a good silver coin be used throughout the empire? Was the larger coin a trade coin of sorts? I need to learn more about the roman economy.

 

Here's an Antoninus Pius sestertius with stairs leading up to the enclosure.

 

Great coin David. I really need to add some cistophori to my collection. I wonder how many denarii equaled the value of a cistophorus? Does anyone know?

 

Cistophori with Latin legends had been produced since the time of Augustus. Although they are considered both an imperial and provincial issue, hoard evidence shows the circulation of these pieces was confined to Asia Minor.

 

In the Flavian period the cistophorus was equal to 3 denarii. Both were struck near the same silver fineness of 80% during Titus' reign.

 

Beautiful and interesting, wonderful pick up!

 

That would be a nice coin to do a little "in hand" video of, to show off it's sweet big size! Nice and thick also I bet!

 

David, awesome new coin! congrats

~Doug

 

David, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer some of my questions. There is so much more to collecting ancient coins than just the coin. They all have a story.

 

I would argue with no prior knowledge that your coin shows more of a crypt as well. The apparent stairs (they have some wear or my eyes are bad) compliment what appears to be two doors on the front with pull handles.

I wish I knew more about Roman burial habits. But I would think that given the similarly designed examples from Augustus and Antoninus Pius above with the Divo legend in place that maybe the suggestion was to worship the divine at their place of rest much like at a temple of any other gods of the Roman pantheon.