Third period,  85-96 A.D.

 


 154. Silver denarius, 19mm, 3.2g, Rome 13 September 95 A.D. - 12 September 96 A.D.; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV  laureate head right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva 2; RIC 191, BMCRE 231, RSC 293

 

 


 7. Silver denarius, 18mm, 3.3g, Rome shortly before 13 September 96 A.D.; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV  laureate head right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Maia wearing winged hat, advancing left holdingcaduceus and dove; RIC 196, RSC 295

  A most interesting coin, with a reverse that belongs to what would have become a major reform. Besides this type, Domitian introduced the "Minerva Victrix", the "altar" reverse and the "Domitian in military dress" reverse which is known from an unique coin. So far Maia was simply noted as "unknown woman", but recently, Prof. T.V. Buttrey properly identified her as Maia, the mother of Hermes, in his article that will appear this year in the Journal of Roman Archeology. From the few recorded specimens (less than ten, all struck with the same reverse die) this is most likely the finest.


178. Silver denarius, 18mm, 3.42g, Rome shortly before 13 September 96 A.D.; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV  laureate head right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Altar showing two men (soldiers) holding scepters or spears, surmounted by two eagles and two bound captives.
Ex Amphora Coins, same dies as Lanz 38, 1986 lot 646; same obverse die as the ANS specimen of the Maia type.

  Very rare, apparently the 9th recorded specimen.  Judging from the military decorations, we might guess the tomb of a general or an altar dedicated to soldiers died in battle.

ZOOM
 146. Silver denarius,18mm, 3.25g, Rome shortly before 13 September 96 A.D.; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV  laureatehead right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva Victrix flying left, holding shield and spear; RIC 194, RSC 294;  Ex. FORVM

  One of the reformed reverses mentioned above. Unlike the previous type, the coins were struck with more than one reverse die. So far I did not see a die match yet.  It is interesting that most of these were engraved quite hastily in a poor style that perhaps would have been unacceptable in the previous years; perhaps Domitian ordered the reform to be carried out at a fast pace. Still, the specimen here was finelly executed.

 

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