DOMITIAN


Caesar 69-81 A.D.
Augustus: 81-96 A.D.



TITVS FLAVIVS DOMITIANVS, born in 51 to the future emperor Vespasian and Flavia Domitilla, was at Rome during the civil wars of 68-69. He hid during the final days of Vitellius, and emerged as Caesar when his father's troops entered. He took second place to his older brother Titus, who succeeded Vespasian when he died in 79. Titus died on September 13, 81 and Domitian became Augustus. He ruled autocratically but well for his first eight years, but became increasingly paranoid after a rebellion in 89. He was finally killed on September 18, 96 by plotters afraid for their lives under his tyrannical rule.
(From MONETA, from www.numus.com)



The Denarii

Silver Denarius 20mm (3.4gr), Struck 73 A.D in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II, Laureate head right

Rev: Domitian riding horse left, holding scepter and human head.

RIC 232 (Vespasian), RSC 664, Sear 2644 
Tom Mullally Collection

Silver Denarius 19mm (3.27gr), Struck 76 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv.CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, Laureate head right.

Rev: COS IIII Minerva standing right on man-headed prow, brandishing spear and holding shield, owl at her feet.

RSC 45b, VM 9/3 
Mark Lehman Collection

Silver Denarius 18mm (3.35gr), Struck 76 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, Laureate head right

Rev: COS IIII Pegasus stepping right

RIC 238 (Vespasian)       
Brett Telford Collection


Silver Denarius 19mm, Struck 77-78 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, Laureate bust right

Rev: COS V She wolf suckling twins, boat below.

RIC 241 (Vespasian), Sear 2639 
Kevin Ingleston Collection


Silver Denarius 19mm, Struck 79 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, Laureate bust right

Rev: PRINCEPS INVVENTVTIS Vesta seated left, holding palladium and scepter

RIC 244 (Vespasian), Sear 2623, C 378
Kevin Ingleston Collection


Silver Denarius 17.6mm (3.47gr), Struck 79 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, Laureate head right

Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS Clasped hands holding legionary eagle set on prow

RIC 246 (Vespasian), RSC 393, Sear 2643
Tom Mullally Collection

Silver Denarius 18mm (3.32gr), Struck 79 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, Laureate head right

Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS Clasped hands holding legionary eagle set on prow

RIC 246 (Vespasian), RSC 393, Sear 2643
Kevin Ingleston Collection

Silver Denarius 17.8mm (3.44gr), Struck 81 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG, Laureate head right

Rev: TR P COS VII Throne with corn ears on top

RIC 2
Tom Mullally Collection

Silver Denarius 18mm (3.24gr), Struck 81 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M,Laureate head right.

Rev: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P Dolphin entwined around altar.

RIC 20, RSC 568, Cf.SR 2745, VM 59/3
Mark Lehman Collection

Silver Denarius 18mm (3.61gr), Struck 86 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V, Laureate head right

Rev: IMP XII COS XII CENS P P P Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at her feet

RIC 81
Brett Telford Collection

Silver Denarius 19.06mm (3.50gr), Struck 89 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIIII, Laureate head right

Rev: IMP XXI COS XIIII CENS P P P Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at her feet

RIC 145, RSC 256
Jan de Veen Collection

Silver Denarius 18mm, Struck 81-96 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XII, Laureate head right

Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P Minerva fighting right on prow, owl at her feet

RIC 174, C. 278, Van Meter 44/1
Harry Stewart Collection


Silver Denarius 18mm (3.53gr), Struck 95-96 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, Laureate head right

Rev: IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P Minerva standing right on prow, brandishing javelin and holding shield, owl at bottom right

RIC 191
Brett Telford Collection

The Sestertii

Orichalcum Sestertius 33mm (18.2gr), Struck 85 A.D. in Rome
as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI, Laureate head right

Rev: S C Domitian sacrificing before Temple of Minerva

RIC 256, C 491
Joe Winnett Collection

Orichalcum Sestertius 34mm (22.11gr), Struck 88-89 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PER P P, Laureate head right.

Rev: IOVI VICTORI; SC Jupiter seated left holding Victory and scepter.

RIC 358, Sear 2766, VM 80.
Mark Lehman Collection

 

The Dupondii

Orichalum Dupondius 28.5mm (13.39gr), Struck 77-78 A.D. as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS V, Radiate head right.

Rev: CERES AVGVST S - C Ceres standing left holding corn-ears and long torch.

RIC 720 (Vespasian), Sear 2551, VM 90 var
Mark Lehman Collection

Orichalum Dupondius 26mm, Struck 80 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Titus

Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VES P F DOMITIAN COS VII, Laureate head right

Rev: CERES AVGVST S C Ceres standing left between S C

RIC 165a (Titus), Sear 2687, C 32, VM 90
Harry Stewart Collection





The Asses
Copper As 26mm (11.08gr), Struck 77-78 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS V, Laureate bust right

Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA S C Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae

RIC 722 (Vespasian), C 103
Kevin Ingleston Collection

Copper As 26.1mm (9.11gr), Struck 77-78 A.D. in Rome as Caesar under Vespasian

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS V, Laureate bust right

Rev: S C Spes advancing left holding flower and lifting skirt.

RIC 791a (Vespasian), C 454
Tom Mullally Collection

Copper As 28mm (10.03gr), Struck 85 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI, Laureate head right.

Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI S - C Jupiter standing left holding thunderbolt and scepter.

Rx Cf. RIC 247b, Cf. Sear 2000
Mark Lehman Collection

Copper  As 28mm (9.59gr), Struck 84 A.D. in Rome as Augustus
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS X, Laureate bust right with aegis on neck

Rev: S C Victory advancing r. holding aquila (legionary eagle) in both hands

cf. RIC II 249a, Sear 2810
Kevin Ingleston Collection

Copper As 27mm (11.79gr), Struck 84 A.D in Rome as Augustus

Obv: CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS X, Laureate head right

Rev: SALVTI AVGVST S-C Altar

RIC 250a
Brett Telford Collection


Copper As 27mm, Struck 85 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS PER P P, Laureate bust right

Rev: IOVI CONSERVAT S C Jupiter standing left holding thunderbolt and scepter

RIC 300a, Sear 2806
Kevin Ingleston Collection

Copper As 28mm (12.45gr), Struck 85 A.D. in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS PER P P, Laureate bust right

Rev: MONETA AVGVSTI S C Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae

RIC 301a, Cohen 326, Sear 2807 var
Jan de Veen Collection


Copper As (29mm), Struck 88-89 A.D. in Rome as Augustus
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P, Laureate head right

Rev: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC S C Domitian sacrificing over and altar facing left, harpist and flute player facing right, temple in background

RIC 385a
Kevin Ingleston Collection

Copper As (28mm), Struck 92-94 A.D. in Rome as Augustus
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XVI CENS PER P P, Laureate head right

Rev: MONETA AVGVSTI Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia

RIC 408, Cohen 333
Kevin Ingleston Collection


Copper As (28mm), Struck 92-94 A.D. in Rome as Augustus
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XVI CENS PER P P, Laureate head right

Rev: MONETA AVGVSTI Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia

RIC 408, Cohen 333
Brett Telford Collection



The Fractions

Copper Quadrans 16.5mm (2.12gr), Struck 83 A.D. and later in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP DOMIT AVG GERM S - C

Rev: Rhinoceros standing left.

RIC 435, Sear 2835, VM 119.
Mark Lehman Collection

Copper Quadrans 18mm (2.87gr), Struck 83 A.D. and later in Rome as Augustus

Obv: IMP DOMIT AVG GERM S - C

Rev: Rhinoceros standing left.

RIC 435, Sear 2835, VM 119.
Harry Stewart Collection