51 Gallery
June 2017 Auction 9 Jun 2017
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EMPIRE, SILVER DENARIUS OF DOMITIAN, Rome, ca. 88 AD, 3.601g, 6h. RIC 580. Old cabine tone. An attractive portrait struck in high relief. Among the finest known. Virtually as struck. Privately acquired from Tradart
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy, was the patron of Domitian. He had a shrine for her in the palace, dedicated at least two temples to her in Rome, and, beginning in AD 83, often used her image on his coinage. The emperor declared himself to be the son of Minerva, and the relationship between them is a recurring theme of Martial's epigrams.
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy, was the patron of Domitian. He had a shrine for her in the palace, dedicated at least two temples to her in Rome, and, beginning in AD 83, often used her image on his coinage. The emperor declared himself to be the son of Minerva, and the relationship between them is a recurring theme of Martial's epigrams.