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RIC 568 Domitian
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AR Denarius, 3.12g
Rome mint, 88 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERMANIC COS XIIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: CENS P P P across field; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear; shield at her l. side (M3)
RIC 568 (R2). BMC 139. RSC 27. BNC 129.
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.
Minted in early 88 AD, the reverse features Domitian's assumption of perpetual censor. The legend CENS P P P across field is quite rare and the series of denarii this coin is apart of was quite short lived, perhaps commemorative in nature.
The portrait is done in a remarkably fine 'Flavian baroque' style and is one of the most artistically pleasing of Domitian I've ever come across. There is not a lot of wear and traces of his "mutton chop" sideburns are still visible in hand. The pleasing attributes the engraver has given Domitian here is quite commendable!
Struck on a large flan (20mm), this is one of my finest denarii of Domitian, both stylistically and fabric wise.
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