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RIC 037 Domitian
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AR Denarius, 2.96g
Rome mint, 81 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG PONT; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded r.
Rev: COS VII DES VIII P P; Tripod with fillets; above, dolphin
RIC 37 (R2). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex Private Collection.
An early rare 'PONT' denarius struck from Domitian's 3rd denarius issue of 81. The abbreviation 'PONT' for Ponitfex Maximus must have come early in the sequence of titles Domitian employed on his denarii and likely was short lived if its rarity is any indication. The records of the Arval brothers do not show Domitian as Pontifex Maximus by 30 October, so presumably he acquired the title in either November or December. The tripod and dolphin reverse is a carry-over pulvinaria type struck originally for Titus and perhaps connected to the religious ceremonies for the opening games of the Colosseum. Domitian finished the structure early in his reign which perhaps explains the continued striking of the pulvinar issue.
Some bumps and scrapes common to detectorist finds.
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