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Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > David Atherton > 2. The Reign of Titus - Imperial Coins
RIC 507 Domitian as Caesar [Titus]
Æ Sestertius, 24.78g
Eastern mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD
Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with branch and cornucopiae
RIC 507 (R). BMC p. 295 note. BNC -. RPC 504.
Acquired from Akropolis Ancient Coins, November 2020.

A mystery mint struck coins for Titus and Domitian as Caesar sometime between 80-81. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, massive reverse figures), and uncommon fabric (flat, almost convex flans) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. The striking of imperial bronze outside of Rome was an exceptional step at the time considering the last imperial branch mint at Lugdunum had shuttered late in Vespasian's reign. The issue consisted of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses which copied types struck at Rome. This rare sestertius struck for Domitian as Caesar copies the Pax type struck contemporaneously for him at Rome. It can be distinguished from that issue by style and fabric. This variety with obverse DOMITIANVS is missing from both the BM and Paris collections.

Dark Chocolate patina and fine 'Thracian' style.

RIC 507 Domitian as Caesar [Titus]

Æ Sestertius, 24.78g
Eastern mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD
Obv: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with branch and cornucopiae
RIC 507 (R). BMC p. 295 note. BNC -. RPC 504.
Acquired from Akropolis Ancient Coins, November 2020.

A mystery mint struck coins for Titus and Domitian as Caesar sometime between 80-81. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, massive reverse figures), and uncommon fabric (flat, almost convex flans) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. The striking of imperial bronze outside of Rome was an exceptional step at the time considering the last imperial branch mint at Lugdunum had shuttered late in Vespasian's reign. The issue consisted of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses which copied types struck at Rome. This rare sestertius struck for Domitian as Caesar copies the Pax type struck contemporaneously for him at Rome. It can be distinguished from that issue by style and fabric. This variety with obverse DOMITIANVS is missing from both the BM and Paris collections.

Dark Chocolate patina and fine 'Thracian' style.

File information
Filename:T507.jpg
Album name:David Atherton / 2. The Reign of Titus - Imperial Coins
Filesize:344 KiB
Date added:Nov 29, 2020
Dimensions:704 x 354 pixels
Displayed:63 times
URL:https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=166784
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Comment 1 to 2 of 2
Page: 1

Jay GT4   [Nov 29, 2020 at 10:00 PM]
Great portrait
ancientdave   [Feb 11, 2021 at 07:35 PM]
Very cool

Comment 1 to 2 of 2
Page: 1

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