Domitian AR Quinarius 73 CE

Domitian AR Quinarius 75 CE

(14mm 1.48g)

Obv: Laureate head right; CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II

Rev: Victory advancing right with wreath and palm; VICTORIA AVGVSTI

RIC 560 [VESP] ; BMC p. 23 + and plate 3, 19; RSC 632

Purchased from INumis May 25, 2020

I have no idea why this lot went unsold at auction back in March. I stumbled across it a few weeks ago and inquired to the auction house and asked if it was still available. It was and I grabbed it. I had thought that the auction house made a mistake when they attributed this as RIC 560. In the auction house photo the obverse legend appeared to be COS III. That would make the coin RIC 790 [VESPASIAN]. However when I received the coin I realized the auction house had it right. It is in fact RIC 560 [VESPASIAN]. The reason that this is important is because while RIC 790 is a rare coin, RIC 560 is even more rare. In fact I have been able to find only 2 and perhaps 3 other examples. 2 of these are cited in RIC. This coin is perhaps either the 3rd or 4th known.

I really like the portrait on this one and the reverse is excellent. However, my foremost reason for buying this coin was because I was lacking a quinarius for Domitian. I am very happy to add this one to my collection.