Magnesia ad Sipylum (in Lydia, Conventus of Smyrna) is a pretty obscure city. Domitia is a pretty rare empress. The combination makes for a pretty rare coin. Too bad the condition isn't nicer. 17-16 mm. 2.61 grams. ΔOMITIA CEBACTH (Domitia Augusta) MAΓNH CIΠY around counterclockwise from 7:00. River god reclining left with cornucopia. Water flows from tipped-over vase. PRC II 986, plate 43. This one is better than the one RPC had to show when they knew of 18 examples for the print edition, but now they know of 20 examples and one of the two new ones is much nicer at Roman Provincial Coins on line: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/986 They note that all their examples seem to be from the same pair of dies, and so is mine. Domitia became the wife of Domitian in 80 and outlived him by many years, perhaps even as long as in to the reign of Antoninus Pius (more than 40 years after Domitian died). Her Roman imperial coins are rare (she is #148 on Roman Imperial Ruler rarity list of Ras Suarez) and I thought I would never get one, so I bid and won this Roman provincial coin (she is only #49 on the Roman Provincial Ruler rarity list). It fills a hole. We had a thread on coins from Roman provincial cities and there is already a coin of Magnesia ad Sipylum on it, so I am not posting it there: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ro...many-can-we-cover.300235/page-10#post-2824670 A coin of this city was in the Saturday Night Free for All thread https://www.cointalk.com/threads/saturday-night-free-for-all.350933/page-16#post-4691114 Does anyone have another Domitia to show?
It's a lovely type, congrats . Domitia and other Flavian women certainly had distinctive hairstyles! I don't have a solo Domitia but do have a confronted busts provincial from a large mixed lot purchased in 2013. The coin was overcleaned but it's still a keeper. Looks like the engraver caught them mid-argument . PHRYGIA, Cybyra/Kibyra. Domitian & Domitia 81-96 AD AE 24 mm, 6.9 gm Obv: ΔOMITIANOC KAICAP ΔOMITIA CEBACTE, laureate head of Domitian and Domitia facing one another Rev: EΠI APXIEPEΩC KΛAV BAINTOC KI BY; Zeus seated left, holding out hand and sceptre Ref: RPC II 1262 (33 examples)
I think it's a nice looking little bronze, Warren. Domitia (82 - 83 A.D.) AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm O: DOMITIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: VENVS AVG, Venus standing right, leaning on cippus, holding helmet and spear. Ephesus mint. Struck 82-83 AD. 10.29g 26mm RIC II 230 (Domitian); RPC II 870; BMCRE 256 (Domitian); BN 226; RSC 19.
Lovely coin, @Valentinian ! That's certainly an uncommonly-encountered city, too. I have no coins from Magnesia ad Sipylum, but here's a Domitia provincial. Domitian, AD 81-96, and Domitia, AD 82-96. Roman provincial Æ 24 mm, 9.45 g. Cilicia, Anazarbus, city year 112 = AD 93/4. Obv: ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΥΙ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ ΓΕΡ, laureate head of Domitian, right; behind, star. Rev: ΚΑΙΣΑΡΕΩΝ ΔΟΜΕΤΙΑ ⳞΕΒΑⳞΤΗ, ΙΒ-Ρ (in field), draped bust of Domitia, left. Refs: RPC II 1749; SNG France 2019-20; BMC 9; Ziegler 76 (obv 1/rev 3); SNG Levante 1374. Notes: Double die match to RPC specimen (Roma Numismatics XVIII, 29 Sept. 2019, lot 758 (ex Künker 236, 7 Oct. 2013, lot 1025)) and the SNG Levante plate coin.
No coins from Domitia but one from Magnesia ad Sipylum. This coin was issued to commemorate Tiberius' assistance to the city of fallowing its destruction in the great earthquake of 17 AD in Lydia. Up to 15 towns and cities were destroyed or badly damaged. He agreed to waive all taxes due for a period of 5 years. He further sent 10 millions sesterces to assess their needs.
Nice rarity of one of my favorite decadent hairstyles! Here's my provincial: Here's Titus unfortunate daughter (niece and possibly forced lover if Domitian) Julia Titi This coin is supposed to be the Roman Senate with the same ridiculous...ly great hairstyle!
Domitia [Domitian] AR Cistophorus Rome mint (for Asia), 82 AD Obv: DOMITIA AVGVSTA; Bust of Domitia, draped r., hair massed in front and in long plait behind Rev: VENVS AVG; Venus stg. r., leaning on column, with helmet and spear RIC 847 (R). BMC 256. RSC 19. RPC 870 (8 spec.). BNC 226. Ex CNG E424, 11 July 2018, lot 471.
@Valentinian - interesting coin. I have just the one Domitia, also provincial. It appears to show her with the same distinctive hair style as yours. Domitia Æ22 of Cadi, Phrygia. AD 70-83. ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust right ΚΑΔΟ-ΗΝΩΝ, filleted cult statue in the style of Artemis of Ephesos. RPC 1361 (this coin - shown as entry 18)
Well done and congrats, Warren. Nice coin as a double-scarcity! I have a Domitia, and it is a small one. RProv Domitia Lydia Philadelphia AE 16 Grape Bunch RPC 1336 Ex: FSR
The links are here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/catalogs/notes.html That page has a few other notes of interest, with supplements to some ancient-coin books.
