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Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > David Atherton > 2. The Reign of Titus - Imperial Coins
RIC 294 Domitian as Caesar [Titus]
Æ Sestertius, 24.01g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD 
Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in field; Minerva adv. r., with spear and shield
RIC 294 (C). BMC 231. BNC 238.
Acquired from Olding, MA Shops, May 2019 = Olding, List 96, March 2019, Sammlung Fritz Reusing, no. 177. From the collection of Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), inherited and continued by Reusing's nephew Paul Schürer (1890-1976).

An exquisite sestertius struck for Domitian as Caesar under Titus featuring his patron deity Minerva. DIVI AVG VESP F tells us the coin was struck after Vespasian's deification. The date of Vespasian's consecratio is dated by the epigraphic evidence sometime between 8 September 79 and 29 May 80. Nathan T. Elkins has proposed that the opening games of the Colosseum were in honour of Vespasian's deification. If so, this sestertius could not have been struck much earlier than June 80. The Minerva reverse was one of the more common types struck during this second bronze issue for Domitian Caesar under Titus. 

Although fine portraits can occasionally be seen in silver, it is on the larger canvas of the bronze where the full flower of Roman imperial portraiture can be seen. This sestertius has one of the finest portraits of Domitian I've come across. A superb example of the imperial engraver's art.

RIC 294 Domitian as Caesar [Titus]

Æ Sestertius, 24.01g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in field; Minerva adv. r., with spear and shield
RIC 294 (C). BMC 231. BNC 238.
Acquired from Olding, MA Shops, May 2019 = Olding, List 96, March 2019, Sammlung Fritz Reusing, no. 177. From the collection of Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), inherited and continued by Reusing's nephew Paul Schürer (1890-1976).

An exquisite sestertius struck for Domitian as Caesar under Titus featuring his patron deity Minerva. DIVI AVG VESP F tells us the coin was struck after Vespasian's deification. The date of Vespasian's consecratio is dated by the epigraphic evidence sometime between 8 September 79 and 29 May 80. Nathan T. Elkins has proposed that the opening games of the Colosseum were in honour of Vespasian's deification. If so, this sestertius could not have been struck much earlier than June 80. The Minerva reverse was one of the more common types struck during this second bronze issue for Domitian Caesar under Titus.

Although fine portraits can occasionally be seen in silver, it is on the larger canvas of the bronze where the full flower of Roman imperial portraiture can be seen. This sestertius has one of the finest portraits of Domitian I've come across. A superb example of the imperial engraver's art.

File information
Filename:T294.jpg
Album name:David Atherton / 2. The Reign of Titus - Imperial Coins
Rating (1 votes):55555Show details
Filesize:67 KiB
Date added:Jun 23, 2019
Dimensions:862 x 418 pixels
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URL:https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=156227
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Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1

Jay GT4   [Jun 23, 2019 at 12:11 PM]
Love the way the two tone patina highlights the portrait
FlaviusDomitianus   [Jun 23, 2019 at 12:16 PM]
The sestertii of this issue have strong portraits. Congrats.
Pharsalos   [Jun 23, 2019 at 12:39 PM]
Amazing portrait, beautifully engraved reverse too.
kc   [Jun 23, 2019 at 02:13 PM]
Good details and a realistic portrait.
orfew   [Jun 23, 2019 at 02:29 PM]
Now that was a talented engraver. A wonderful coin David.
mix_val   [Jun 25, 2019 at 05:13 PM]
Handsome portrait

Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1

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