RIC 833 Domitian (2)

Æ Dupondius, 12.04g
Eastern Mint (Thrace?), 81 AD
Obv: IMP D CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VII; Head of Domitian, radiate, bearded, r.
Rev: ROMA; S C in exergue; Roma std. l. on cuirass, with wreath and parazonium
RIC 833 (R). BMC 514. BNC 549. RPC 528.
Acquired from Incitatus Coins, November 2020.

An Eastern mystery mint struck imperial bronze coins for Titus and Domitian between 80-81. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, and 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 prompted a localised imperial issue which consists of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses copying types struck at Rome. The mystery mint continued production uninterrupted for Domitian as Augustus after Titus's death in September 81 for perhaps a few months with little change in types. This Roma dupondius is a carry-over type from Titus's issue with only slight changes to the obverse legend to fit Domitian's nomenclature. It's the only reverse type struck for the dupondius in the series for both Titus and Domitian. These Domitianic 'Thracian' bronzes are much rarer than those coined under Titus, very likely because of the issue's short production period under Domitian.