Mars with Victory

I kept putting off obtaining an example of this fairly scarce (notice I didn't say rare!) Domitian middle bronze reverse type. Recently I came across one in reasonable condition and price.


Domitian
Æ As, 9.62g
Rome mint, 86 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis
Rev: S C in field; Mars adv. l., with Victory and trophy
RIC 496 (C). BMC 392. BNC -.
Acquired from Sam Sloat Coins, August 2021.

This Mars reverse was struck for Domitian's asses for a short period between 85-87 AD. No doubt it was part of the massive Germania Capta series struck on the bronzes at the time. It copies a reverse design previously struck for Vespasian's sestertii.

Despite the wear, the stylish portrait still shines through.

Feel free to share your Mars/Victory coins!

 

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That's an interesting design, @David Atherton. Mars looks like he's doing a Monty Python silly walk.



Here's Mars advancing a traditional fashion.



Trajan, AD 98-117.
Roman AR denarius, 2.92 gm, 20.1 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 114-117.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right.
Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy.
Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819.

 

Nice David, here's mine from the previous COS XI issue. I know you have coins from the same old provenance collection.



IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT P P
Laureate head right with Aegis

SC
Mars advancing left with Victory and trophy

Rome, 85 AD

13.67g

RIC 387 (C)

Holed in antiquity and plugged in the late 19th century?

Ex-Manfred Olding 2019 n 184; Ex-Sammlung Heynen 1976;Ex-Paul Schürer (1890-1976); Ex-Fritz Reusing (1874-1956)

Comes with old tag probably from Heynen or Schürer. Olding tag incorrectly attributed to RIC 420 (different ending to legend)

 

Nice coin David.

 

Very nice portrait David, congrats.

 

Patience is golden, great find, very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

 

An excellent find David. The reverse is very interesting and the portrait is also nice.

 

@David Atherton....Very nice looking coin!....Great portrait but also the reverse still has some nice detail....Cool pick up...Here's a Mr Mars..
Severus Alexander. 222-235 AD. AR Denarius (2.89 gm, 20mm). Rome mint. Struck 228 AD.
Obv.: IMP SEV ALE-XAND AVG, laureate head right.
Rev.: PM TRPVII COSII PP , Mars standing right, holding shield and spear.
RIC IV 83; BMCRE 503; RSC 337. aEF.

 

Another really nice Flavian.

Here is a sestertius of Alexander Severus with Mars on reverse, followed by a sestertius of Marcus Aurelius with reverse of Mars...