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RIC 565 Domitian
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AR Denarius, 3.25g
Rome mint, 88 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG GERMANICVS; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: COS XIIII across field; Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2)
RIC 565 (R3). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.
This denarius features an extremely rare obverse legend (notice the full spelling of DOMITIANVS and GERMANICVS) with the rare COS XIIII legend across reverse field. It is part of a short lived series minted near the beginning of 88. The only other known specimen is in the Fitzwilliam collection, which is an obverse die match with my coin (the reverse is a die match with the RIC 564 plate coin).
Struck in high relief on a broad flan (22mm!) with an exquisite portrait, Domitian would have been very pleased. A phenomenal coin in hand regardless of rarity.
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