DISCOVER HISTORICAL ANCIENT ROMAN COINS

Domitian, as Augustus (AD 81-96). (Group 4) AR denarius Rome 13 September-31 December AD 81 (18mm, 3.02 gm, 6h). NGC Choice Fine 4/5 - 4/5. Obv: IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG P M, laureate head of Domitian right Rev: TR P COS VII-DES VIII P P, pulvinar of Jupiter and Juno, draped, surmounted by thunderbolt. RIC II 72 (R2), BMC--, RSC--, Cohen-- 2019 August 18 Ancient Coin Selections from the Morris Collection, Part II Monthly Online Auction #271933Lot # 35169 I really wanted this denarius of Domitian. Why? First, it was struck during Domitian's first year as Augustus. In 81 CE there were 4 issues of precious metal coinage. They are grouped in RIC by the reverse legend. The chronology of

Vespasian AR Denarius 75 CE Rome Mint Obv: Head Laureate Right: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Rev: Victory stg left on Cista Mystica flanked by snakes; PON MAX TR P COS VI RIC 776 (R) RSC 369, BMC 169 Private purchase July 29, 2019 The reverse of this coin is the reason I wanted it. Though it is rough if you look closely you can see most of the main elements. Victory is standing on a Cista Mystica. A Cista Mystica was a box that housed snakes and that was used in religious ceremonies. Snakes were associated with dieties. On either side of the box on the reverse you can see snakes. Vespasian was not the first emperor to use this type of reverse. In fact, the first emperor Augustus used this on

Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.12g Rome mint, 79 AD RIC 1069 (R). BMC 248. RSC 553. Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: TR POT X COS VIIII; Victory stg. l., placing shield on trophy; below, captive std. l. Left facing denarii were struck for Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. Some of the left facing denarii for Vespasian and Titus are quite rare. However, all of the left facing denarii of Domitian are rare to extremely rare. The right facing version of this coin of Vespasian is a common coin. In general the left facing denarii are scarcer overall but in many cases they are not as rare as the left facing denarii struck for Domitian. In fact, there are a number of

Vespasian Denarius AR Denarius, 2.84g Rome Mint, 77-78 AD RIC 939 (R). BMC 203. RSC 129. Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: COS VIII; Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak, fastened with belt round waist, standing l., holding spear slanting upwards l. in r. hand and trophy on l. shoulder in l. Corn-ear upright in ground r. At first glance this coin looks like a rough coin with not worthy of any particular collector interest. However, appearances can be deceiving. While the Mars standing reverse is very common for Vespasian, I bought this coin for the rare addition on the reverse. To the right of Mars there is a corn ear sticking out of the ground. That

Domitian AR Denarius 82 CE First Issue Rome 3.13 g Obv: Head Laureate right; IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PM Rev: Minerva stg left with victory and spear, at feet shield; TR POT COS VIII RIC 99 (R) Purchased from Ebay August 2, 2019 Minerva reverses on Domitian denarii are not at all rare. in fact these reverses dominate the denarii of Domitian. However, before this occurred there were some interesting appearances of minerva on the early denarii for Domitian as Augustus. The above coin is one of these. Issued in 82 CE, this early denarius features Minerva holding victory. I personally think this version of Minerva is both interesting and attractive. I wish it had been carried on for other issues.

Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Domitian, 81-96 Diobol circa 89-90 (year 9), Æ 24.7mm., 15.53g. Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ; Laureate head r. Rev. ETOYΣ ENATOTOY Eagle standing r. on thunderbolt. RPC 2566 (This coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 22, 6809 (this coin). Rare, only two other specimens listed in RPC. Brown tone, Good Fine. From the Dattari collection. Ex; Naville Numismatics Live auction 51 Lot 305 This coin will win no beauty contests. It is a rare Diobol of Domitian struck in Alexandria. This coin does have a couple of things going for it. First of all it is Ex: Dattari. It was part of the famous Dattari collection of Alexandrian coins. In fact, it is the plate coin from the