Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Ephesus. Domitian Caesar, 69 – 81.
Denarius, Ephesus 71, AR 3.36 g. DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust r. wearing aegis. Rev. PACI ORB – TERR AVG Turreted and draped female bust r.; below, EPHE ligate. C 337. BMC Vespasian 474. RIC Vespasian 1448. CBN –. RPC 849.
Rare. Two very attractive portraits and a lovely iridescent tone. Extremely fine
Privately purchased from Freeman & Sear on the 12th of September 2003.
As part of Vespasian's policy of giving his sons a share in power and presenting the public image of a stable dynasty, he regularly placed the images and titles of Titus and Domitian on coins with reverses referring to accomplishments of their father. This attractively struck and toned denarius features a cuirassed portrait of Domitian designed to give the impression that he was a victorious commander. Indeed, the prominent gorgoneion on his cuirass and the sideburn that he sports may have been intended to cast him as a Roman version of Alexander the Great. However, in AD 71, when this issue was struck, Domitian had not yet served in any military capacity. The reverse type, which celebrates the return of peace throughout the world, refers to the end of the bloody Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69) that was brought about by Vespasian's assumption of power in Rome at the beginning of AD 70. Even more topical when this coin was produced was the fall of Jerusalem (September AD 70), which concluded the real fighting in the Jewish Revolt (AD 66-73) and which was celebrated by Vespasian and Titus in a great triumphal procession in AD 71. Domitian, however, had played no direct role in any of these events contributing to the return of peace. Late in the Year of the Four Emperors he had been placed under house arrest and might have been killed by the Vitellian forces if he had not escaped disguised as a worshipper of Isis. He had never spent any time campaigning in Judaea and was prevented from taking part in the operations to quell the Batavian revolt of AD 70. Thus, there is no other way to describe the types and legends of this coin than as pure Flavian propaganda.
Denarius, Ephesus 71, AR 3.36 g. DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust r. wearing aegis. Rev. PACI ORB – TERR AVG Turreted and draped female bust r.; below, EPHE ligate. C 337. BMC Vespasian 474. RIC Vespasian 1448. CBN –. RPC 849.
Rare. Two very attractive portraits and a lovely iridescent tone. Extremely fine
Privately purchased from Freeman & Sear on the 12th of September 2003.
As part of Vespasian's policy of giving his sons a share in power and presenting the public image of a stable dynasty, he regularly placed the images and titles of Titus and Domitian on coins with reverses referring to accomplishments of their father. This attractively struck and toned denarius features a cuirassed portrait of Domitian designed to give the impression that he was a victorious commander. Indeed, the prominent gorgoneion on his cuirass and the sideburn that he sports may have been intended to cast him as a Roman version of Alexander the Great. However, in AD 71, when this issue was struck, Domitian had not yet served in any military capacity. The reverse type, which celebrates the return of peace throughout the world, refers to the end of the bloody Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69) that was brought about by Vespasian's assumption of power in Rome at the beginning of AD 70. Even more topical when this coin was produced was the fall of Jerusalem (September AD 70), which concluded the real fighting in the Jewish Revolt (AD 66-73) and which was celebrated by Vespasian and Titus in a great triumphal procession in AD 71. Domitian, however, had played no direct role in any of these events contributing to the return of peace. Late in the Year of the Four Emperors he had been placed under house arrest and might have been killed by the Vitellian forces if he had not escaped disguised as a worshipper of Isis. He had never spent any time campaigning in Judaea and was prevented from taking part in the operations to quell the Batavian revolt of AD 70. Thus, there is no other way to describe the types and legends of this coin than as pure Flavian propaganda.