I acquired this neat drachm a week or so ago and because of a hectic schedule I'm just now getting around to 'playing' with it. These are not often seen in trade, so I was quite thrilled when it arrived! Domitian AR Drachm, 3.22g Rome mint for Lycia, 95 AD RPC 1503 (2 spec.). Obv: AYT KAIC ΔOMITIANOC CЄBACTOC ΓЄPM; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: ЄTOYC IΔ YPATOY IZ; Two lyres with owl perched on top Ex Lanz, eBay, October 2017. A small issue of drachms were struck by Domitian for Lycia in 95. The style and six o'clock die axis point to Rome as the home mint. These drachms were produced alongside Domitian's Roman style cistophori from the same year. Both issues share the same Macedonian silver content of 80% fineness. The drachms weighed about one third of a cistophorus and likely were valued accordingly. It is not known if the two denominations circulated together or separately. Because of the drachms similar weight and appearance with contemporary denarii, they appear in denarius hoards all over the empire and seemed to have circulated with them. Interestingly, this drachm has the traditional Lycian lyres along with Athena's owl, perhaps an appropriate nod to Domitian's favourite deity. Share your Lycian coins or any pieces with musical instruments!
You can certainly see the stylistic parallels with the imperial output of the Rome mint. If you were to crop out just the bust you would think your were looking at a Rome mint denarius. Very nice.
That's a really terrific coin and the first of its type I have ever noticed! That portrait certainly 'shouts' Rome....and I love the 'dueling lyres'!!! My best example of a lyre: chalkidian league tetrabol, apollo and chitara 432-348 bc. 2.36 grams Sng ans 528
Very nice @David Atherton ! Really cool with TWO Lyres on the reverse... unusual. I have a few with Lyres, here are a couple: RImp Octavian 27BC-14AD AR Den mint 32-31 BC Bare Caesar Divi Mercury lyre RIC 257 RI Commodus 177-192 CE AR Denarius 17.7mm 2.42g Apollo Plectrum Lyre RIC 218 RSC 25 BMCRE 292 Rare Type
A coin like this perfectly illustrates just how integrated imperial and provincial silver issues were by this point in time. Kevin Butcher appropriately calls them 'imperial provincials'.
Neat coin! I just got a Antiochus ll Theos Apollo/lyre coin mostly because i got beat on a bid for a Nero playing a lyre provincial..plus another Nero victory spqr that should be arriving soon
