RIC 668 Domitian

AR Denarius, 3.28g
Rome mint, 88-89 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2)
RIC 668 (C3). BMC 152. RSC 253. BNC 146.
Acquired from Ken Dorney, June 2014.

This common denarius is part of Domitian's 88-89 fourth issue, the largest of the period. It records Domitian's 19th Imperial salutation, most likely awarded for a victory over the German Chatti in late 88 or early 89 (probably by March or April of 89). T.V. Buttrey has proposed that this salutation may in fact be for the victory over the rebel legate Saturnius, dressed up as a German victory.

A decent portrait in the standard style of this issue struck on good metal.