Domitian AR Denarius 88-89 CE (Sixth Issue)

Domitian AR Denarius (19mm, 3.23g, 6h). Rome (Sept 14, 88 - c. Sept 13, 89) (Sixth Issue).

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII, head laureate right;

Rev: IMP XXI COS XIIII CENS P P P, Minerva stg. R on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r. owl. (M2).

RIC 675 (R2), BMC--, RSC –

This coin has a very expressive portrait featuring uninteresting nose. Unfortunately, I have been unable to compare this coin to many coins because of its rarity. The 2 examples I found online reside in the collection of the American Numismatic Society, and in a private collection displayed on Forvm Ancient Coins. There does not appear to be an example in the British Museum collection.

This coin is rare because of the dating combination of the imperial titles. All of the coins in the sixth issue for 88-89 CE are rare but 2 pf them are rarer than the other 2 coins. This issue is made up of only 4 coins. Each one is one of the 4 types of Minerva reverse.

I wanted this coin for 2 reasons. First I had never seen one before and second I liked the look of it. I have really enjoyed the process of finding these rare variations for the Minerva denarii. It involves hours of researching online and in print references and this is a great deal of fun.