RIC 686 Domitian

AR Denarius, 3.40g
Rome mint, 89 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXI COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2)
RIC 686 (C2). BMC 159. RSC 258. BNC 154.
Acquired from Athena Numismatics, June 2014.

Late in 89 Domitian was voted a double triumph over the Chatti and the Dacians. This common denarius struck between mid September and 31 December records Domitian's 21st imperial acclamation, the culmination of the two campaigns. The portrait style is quite unusual featuring a bull necked, heavily jowled Domitian, perhaps features more fitting for Vespasian.

A large flan specimen with a distinctive colourful patina.