RIC 0658

Domitian (81-96). AR Denarius, 88-89.
( 19.00 mm. 3.39 g.)
Obv. Head right, laureate; IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG GERM P M TR P VIII
Rev. Minerva standing right on rostral column, holding spear and shield; at feet, owl; IMP XVII COS XIIII CENS PP P
RIC 658. Lightly toned.
EX: Artemide Aste E-Live Auction 17, March 27, 2021 Lot 380

This unassuming denarius is quite a rarity in 2 regards. First, as an individual coin type this particular coin is extremely hard to find. Secondly, the detail that makes this coin rare is a rare occurrence for the denarii of Domitian. So, if you went looking for D658 you would not find many documented. As to why it is rare, you need look no further than the obverse legend. Note the use of DOMITIANVS instead of the common DOMIT found on the vast majority of Domitian denarii. Legend variations on the Minerva denarii for Domitian are very rare. Another one that comes to mind is GERMAN instead of GERM. Of course, there are a few others that are used instead of GERM but that is a topic for another post.

Many consider the Minerva denarii to be quite dull or even excruciatingly boring. However, if you look carefully there is enough variation to make things interesting. The problem is sifting through Minerva after Minerva looking for the exceptions. I like spending my time this way but others may be forgiven for not feeling the same. As a result, the variations are often overlooked by sellers and collectors alike. That is okay by me since it means I get to find some of these gems, but there really should be more collectors of these interesting coins. It is easy I suppose to become indifferent to all the intricacies of the multiple titles that Domitian held, but these titles are not some random letter and number combinations. Instead, they refer to life and death struggles, forgotten wars, and past triumphs. All of these involved humans who were born lived and died almost 2000 years ago. However dim that past may now seem, we share their humanity.