Enough!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Oct 13, 2020.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    To be honest, I never thought I would own one of these. It's the kind of coin that is so rare you only admire it from afar in reference catalogues or museum websites. With my latest purchase I can now hold one in hand. Talk about a grail coin!


    D796a.jpg Domitian
    Æ Sestertius, 22.99g
    Rome mint, 95-96 AD
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XVII CENS PER P P; Bust of Domitian, laureate, r., draped and cuirassed
    Rev: S C in exergue; Triumphal arch, showing two archways, surmounted by two elephant quadrigae
    RIC 796 (R2). BMC -. BNC 509.
    Acquired from Romae Aeternae Numismatics, October 2020.

    He erected so many and such huge vaulted passage-ways and arches in the various regions of the city, adorned with chariots and triumphal emblems, that on one of them someone wrote in Greek: "enough!" - Suetonius, Life of Domitian, 13.2.

    Thus we begin with a pun. Some nameless wag scrawled ARCI on one of Domitian’s many arches, punning on the similarity between arcus (‘arch’) and the Greek arkei (‘enough’). Suetonius thought it clever enough to pass it along in his Life of Domitian. Domitian was a builder and he did indeed erect many arches throughout the city of Rome. This rare sestertius struck during Domitian's last year as emperor depicts one of them, but which one? The clue actually resides with another ancient author- Martial.

    Here where the dazzling temple of Fortuna Redux shines broadly, recently was till now an open space. Here Caesar stood, beautiful with the dust of northern war, pouring out purple radiance from his face. Here Rome, dressed in white and hair wreathed in laurel, greeted the leader with voice and hand. And other grand gifts testify to the merit of the place. A sacred arch standing exultant over subjected nations. Here twin chariots numbering many an elephant. Himself golden, he stands up to the immense yokes. A gate worthy of the emperor's triumphs. It is suitable to have these entrances to the city of Mars. - Martial, 8.65.

    Martial describes an arch erected by Domitian near the Temple of Fortuna Redux. The arch is topped by a pair of bigas pulled by elephants, which is exactly what the coin depicts. The coin shows a quadrifrontal arch seen from one of the corners, with two of the archways visible. Apparently it stood at a crossroads - the Via Flaminia and the Vicus Pallacinae being the prime candidates. Mary Beard in her book 'The Roman Triumph' conjectures the arch is a porta triumphalis. The triumph in question is unknown. Martial says Domitian has returned from a 'northern war', we do not know which one. It is tempting to speculate the arch was erected for one of Domitian's German triumphs, but the term 'northern war' could fit almost any of the numerous northern border conflicts that were waged in the late 80s and early 90s AD. Melanie Grunow Sobocinski plausibly speculates the arch could be connected to Domitian's January 93 triumph over the Sarmatians.

    Sobocinski's hypothetical models of the arch and temple layout as presented in her essay 'Porta Triumphalis and Fortuna Redux: Reconsidering the Evidence'.

    Capture3.JPG

    The elephant arch sestertii are extremely rare and were perhaps minted as presentation pieces, judging by their monumental nature and the fact they were part of a special issue of sestertii depicting several of Domitian's monuments (the imperial palace and Equus Maximus). Ian Carradice wrote of them 'All the coins of this special series lack reverse legends (they include only S C), and the sestertii are further distinguished by two exceptional portraits of Domitian, one with drapery representing a military cloak, and one in which the aegis reappears. The nature of the types, their style and their great rarity all suggest that these coins perhaps formed a special commemorative issue.' (Coinage and Finances in the Reign of Domitian, p. 123) The arch is long gone, but the coins still remain as a testament to Domitian's megalomania.

    No specimens of the type are in the BM. The above coin is a double die match with the Paris specimen. A truly remarkable piece!

    Along with the coin I just had to purchase Nathan T. Elkins' Monuments in Miniature: Architecture on Roman Coinage.

    CSfj813WsAAPlvM.jpg

    A most excellent scholarly overview of the subject.

    And now I would like to see your own 'monuments in miniature'!

    **Special thanks to @Jay GT4 for photographic assistance.**
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
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  3. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    Very interesting article and great coin, @David Atherton! Though not as "monumental" ;) as yours, this coin depicts a temple of Artemis.

    Pamphyia Perga Artemis in Temple & Bowcase.jpg
    Pamphylia. Perga (circa 50-30 BC). Æ (Bronze, 17 mm, 4.87 g).
    Cult statue of Artemis Pergaia facing within distyle temple / Bow and quiver, AΡTEMIΔOΣΠEΡΓAIAΣ around.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
  4. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    Wow David, that certainly is a fabulous looking coin...congrats on the acquisition! :singing:
    You certainly are a fanatic :D...lucky for us! :happy::singing:
     
  5. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    Hi @David Atherton,

    Wonderful acquisition. Here is the Alexandrian analog. Domitian, AE Drachma Year 6

    Refs: Emmett-0250.06; Geissen-0349; Dattari-0449; RPC II-2524 online var: Obv legend. Note: See F Kleiner "An arch of Domitian in Rome on coins of Alexandria," NC 1989, pp 69-81.

    upload_2020-10-13_1-43-14.png


    Important architectural type. From CNG Triton XXI Stafierri: "While often assumed to depict a local Egyptian monument, Fred Kleiner ("An arch of Domitian in Rome on coins of Alexandria," NC 1989, pp 69-81) has convincingly argued that the arch was erected elsewhere, almost certainly in the capital, to commemorate Domitian’s victories in Germany. ... It is also interesting to note that the production of Aes denominations finally started to increase at the Alexandrian mint during the reign of Domitian, and at the expense of the billon production."

    - Broucheion
     
  6. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    DIVUS CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS.
    Ae Antoninianus.
    AD 270.
    Cyzicus mint.

    Obv/ DIVO CLAVDIO, radiate head right.
    Rev/ CONSECRATIO, three-tiered funeral pyre, with two statues flanking the middle tier and flames emerging from the top.

    Cat: RIC 267.
    Bronze (Ae) 3,2g - 19mm.
    David,am drooling.... absolutely fantastic very rare coin, congrats.
    I agree great book I have a copy as well. Also don't get to carried away with architecture coins.......I don't need any more bidding competition. :(
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
  7. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Great coin, David! I especially love the tie-in with that tidbit from Suetonius.
     
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  8. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Antoninus Pius Ar Denarius 159 AD . Rv. Togate figure standing within small tetrastyle shrine. RIC 285 3.10 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen piusd19.jpg
     
  9. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Wonderful find, congrats, David.

    Here is a coin/building I haven't reposted in awhile

    [​IMG]
    Petillius Capitolinus (43 B.C.)
    AR Denarius
    O: CAPITOLINVS, Bare head of bearded Jupiter right.
    R: PETILLIVS, The Capitoline Temple of Jupiter: richly decorated hexastyle façade with ornamented pediment and garlands hanging within three openings; [PE]TILLIVS in exergue.
    Rome
    3.5g
    20mm
    Crawford 487/1, Sydenham 1149
     
  10. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  11. Alwin

    Alwin Well-Known Member

    Triumphal Arch of Domitian
    IMG.jpg
    In: Ancient Architecture on greek and roman coins and medals - T.L. Donaldson (1965)
    Donaldson.jpg
     
  12. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    A fantastic addition David. Wow that is just superb!
     
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  13. eparch

    eparch Well-Known Member

    @David Atherton - fascinating coin- congratulations.

    The first Emperor to erect a Triumphal Arch to celebrate a victory was
    Augustus, as depicted on this coin (probably !)


    upload_2020-10-13_21-59-53.png

    OCTAVIAN. Denarius (30-29 BC). Uncertain Italian mint, possibly Rome.

    Obv: Bare head right.
    Rev: Octavian's Actian arch (arcus Octaviani): Single span surmounted by entablature inscribed IMP CAESAR and Octavian in facing triumphal quadriga.

    RIC 267

    I quote from the Roman Forum Project :

    The honorific arch that Augustus received for his victory at Actium heralded the start of a completely new approach to the construction of honorific arches on the Forum. Thus it poses a special problem for scholars who are investigating the Forum under Augustus that the exact location of the Actian Arch has not yet been determined and that no fragments have been ascribed to it. The discussion of this monument is based upon secondary sources, literary works and the depiction of the arch on a contemporary coin. This alone shows that the erection of this arch must have been a sensation, back when the Forum was built.

    History and Significance of the Arch

    The novel thing about the Actian Arch was that it was conspicuously decorated as a monument for the celebration of a military triumph. This effect was mainly achieved by setting a triumphal quadriga on top of the arch. Herein lay a decisive difference between this arch and older Republican arch monuments, such as the Fornix Fabianus at the Forum. Before the battle at Actium, victorious generals and admirals were honoured through the erection of honorific statues and columns (sometimes decorated with naval rams; see Columnae rostratae of Augustus; Comitium). Moreover, the victorious triumphators donated their spoils – such as the rams of the defeated fleets or their enemies’ shields – as decoration for the structures on the Forum (see e.g. Rostra Augusti; Tabernae) in order to showcase their military victory. However, the erection of an arch monument in order to explicitly commemorate a triumph was a sensational novelty in the Forum.

    This makes it clear how rigorously the ideological celebration of the victory at Actium was planned. Octavian continued a tradition which had been practised since the middle Republic, namely, erecting honorific monuments on the Forum for individuals who had been victorious in battle. However, he was the first to link the honorific arch closely to the triumphal celebration. The great significance of this honorific monument is attested by the fact that its erection was ordered by the Senate: that is, the Senate officially sanctioned and legitimised Octavian’s victory in the civil war – and this act of legitimisation was visible in permanent form to everybody in the Forum.
     
  14. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Stay tuned! ;)
     
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  15. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    No worries ... unless they be Flavian. :angelic:
     
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  16. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

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  17. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Wow David, that is most certainly a milestone in your collection. The problem occurs that you have so many milestones you might get lost .... :D

    Excellent acquisition
    Q
     
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  18. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    LOL! I like that.

    And yes, this is definitely a strong contender for my 'coin of the year' award!
     
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  19. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I agree with Q. I run into this a lot in my Septimius Severus specialty. If asked to give a list of my ten favorite coins, most might be not only Septimius but coins many of you would believe to be the same as each other. I have had about a hundred 'milestone' coins of which possibly half are Septimius and others are things from the half dozen other specialties I enjoy. Today I got an ad from a friend/dealer who was having a sale. I suspect he will sell many coins but not to me because most dealers do not want specialist type coins unless they know a customer who wants that exact coin. Those still collecting generally and those with only a few dozen coins will buy most of them.

    We specialists will have to face the problem someday when we need to find a dealer who wants 500 denarii of Septimius Severus or Domitian even if 50 of them are milestones to some degree. David has shared with us several milestone coins. In fact, because of his posts here, we all could have a handle on what there is in Flavian coins including several things we will be unlikely ever to add to our collections. I do not expect David to start looking for matches for what I post and I hope I can fight the urge to start collecting his specialty. I have too many specialties already!
     
  20. +VGO.DVCKS

    +VGO.DVCKS Well-Known Member

    @Ancient Aussie, to get right back into the architecture (insincere apologies ensue), that one's fantastic. Without looking, it's a 'DIVO CLAUDIO,' which, as a guess, would still put it safely in the pre-Tetrarchy phase of the 3rd century. As such (...until someone busts me on the attribution), the anticipation of the Constantinian 'camp gate' issues is the kind of thing that might make someone sit up in their chair.

    ...Right, the 'camp gate' motif goes on to be adapted and /but perpetuated (along the lines of, for one recent instance in this forum, Roman provincials and Pharoahnic and Ptolemaic motifs), far into the medieval period. Going from the 'temple' type of the Carolingians (9th c. onward), to early Capetian France (issues from Orleans --in which the 'gate' part is more pronounced), and other, even more creative adaptations in the French feudal series, from the 11th century.
    Making your example, as a prototype going farther back than I ever knew of, that resonantly cool.
    ...Okay, only since people are running with the architectural theme, despite your ostensible protestations, there's this. I just posted it, somewhere, but the similarity to your reverse is pretty pronounced. This is of Hugues Bardoul, count of Dreux c. 1035-1055. ...Inviting speculation that maybe the medieval die engravers were using different, but complementary Roman prototypes. The references always describe it a church facade, but I harbor my doubts --especially since the reverse legend is 'DRVCAS CASTA.'
    COINS, FRANCIA, VGO BARDOUL, OBV..jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
  21. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks, sorry one of the few times I neglected to put the coins attribution, I am glad you like it.
     
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