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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 2255984, member: 82616&quot;]The postman delivered another dandy Domitian denarius over the weekend.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]447094[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Domitian</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Rome mint, 83 AD</p><p>RIC 169 (R), BMC p. 307 note , RSC 601</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: TR POT II COS VIIII DES X P P; Minverva stg. l., with spear (M4)</p><p><br /></p><p>Domitian was very concerned about the quality of his coinage. In 82 AD he restored the fineness of the denarius to the levels of Augustus, striking them in nearly 100% silver. This coin from 83 was produced soon after the new standard was introduced. The portrait style is somewhere between the earlier veristic style seen in the first few months of the reign and the more elaborate, idealised style the engravers employed from 84 onward. This issue is also significant because it introduces for the first time the four standard Minerva types that would dominate the reverse of the denarius until the end of the reign. The coins from this second issue of 83 are all quite rare.</p><p><br /></p><p>I love this portrait with it&#039;s characteristic overbite and protruding chin. The scrape on Domitian&#039;s cheek isn&#039;t so noticeable in hand.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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