A new city alliance type for Domitian from Sardes (Lydia)

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Hello everyone.

Today I received another interesting coin, struck in Sardes during the reign of Titus and belonging to a series  celebrating the alliance between Sardes and Smyrna.

The whole series has been discovered after the publication of RPC II and lists coin struck in the name of Titus, in the name of Domitian (this one) and in the name of both of them (only one example, already in my collection).

Apart from its rarity, the coin is really beautiful with good relief and an intact green patina.

The cuirassed bust of Domitian is reminiscent of some denarii previously minted in Ephesus.

I hope you'll like it as I do.

Alberto


https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-159674

[okidoki]

Great bust indeed

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Thanks Eric,

I know Hadrian has many more of this kind


Alberto

[Jay GT4]

That's a really nice coin Alberto

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Thanks Jay,

it was another hard fight to get it...

Alberto

[Meepzorp]

Hi FD,

Nice coin!

Meepzorp

[orfew]

nice catch Alberto

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Thanks Meepzorp and Eric,

you're very kind.

Alberto

[helvetica]

I am trying to figure out what the rest of the legend is. i.e. the three or four letters on the lower left. The EPI T FL is apparently below, (the T is clear). Could the letters at lower left perhaps be CTRA, as on this type of reverse for Titus ? (Perhaps you could go over the coin with a felt bob in a Dremel, with a tiny smear of RenWax on the felt bob. This can really bring out obscure details without doing any harm whatsoever).

In addition the emperor's name appears to be DOMITIANW (as Naumann described in the auction), not DOMITIANOC. The O of DOM is clearly a closed O, whereas the last letter is an open Omega. And could KAICAR perhaps be KAICARI ? The letter after the R is not part of the wreath ties.

I will add this to the supplement of my Lydia work.

[FlaviusDomitianus]

I am trying to figure out what the rest of the legend is. i.e. the three or four letters on the lower left. The EPI T FL is apparently below, (the T is clear). Could the letters at lower left perhaps be CTRA, as on this type of reverse for Titus ? (Perhaps you could go over the coin with a felt bob in a Dremel, with a tiny smear of RenWax on the felt bob. This can really bring out obscure details without doing any harm whatsoever).

In addition the emperor's name appears to be DOMITIANW (as Naumann described in the auction), not DOMITIANOC. The O of DOM is clearly a closed O, whereas the last letter is an open Omega. And could KAICAR perhaps be KAICARI ? The letter after the R is not part of the wreath ties.

I will add this to the supplement of my Lydia work.

Hi Dane, you're absolutely right about the legends.

Actually I had them right on my files, but I made some copy and paste and forget to edit.

I just did it, thanks for pointing it out.

Alberto