Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
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Domitian, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 77-78. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head to right / Parthian captive kneeling to right, offering up standard with vexillum; COS V in exergue. RIC II.1 959 (Vespasian); C. 48; BMCRE 231 (Vespasian); Calicó 819. 7.25g, 19mm, 6h.
Good Very Fine; a striking portrait of Domitian.
Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 7, 24 October 2020, lot 1571;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 71, 16 May 2013, lot 224 (hammer: 16,000 CHF);
Ex Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955) Collection.
As part of a policy to promote the new Flavian dynasty, Vespasian gave a greater share of coin obverses to his sons than any of his predecessors had given to their family members before him. In this way he could promote notions of dynastic longevity and seamless succession after his passing. As seen here on this coin minted under Vespasian, his son Domitian represents the imperial family. This was during a time when Domitian's role in the Flavian dynasty was to a large extent ceremonial; he held only honorary titles including Caesar and Princeps Iuventutis as well as several priesthoods: augur, pontifex, frater arvalis, magister frater arvalium, and sacerdos collegiorum omnium, but not yet any office with imperium.
Not only did Vespasian look to the future to strengthen his dynasty, but he also turned to the past in the hope of aligning his rule with other highly regarded emperors. This is evidenced by the reverse of this coin, part of a new series that used antiquarian designs. In this case a kneeling Parthian man offering up a standard is depicted, recalling a famous type minted by the moneyers Turpilianus, Florus, and Durmius c. 19/18 BC under Augustus, to commemorate the return of the Parthian standards. Furthermore, Mattingly suggests that there is a definite topical reference in the choice to re-use this particular type: the Parthians had again been pressuring Rome for help against the Alani (Harold Mattingly, 1966, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum Volume II).
Good Very Fine; a striking portrait of Domitian.
Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 7, 24 October 2020, lot 1571;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 71, 16 May 2013, lot 224 (hammer: 16,000 CHF);
Ex Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955) Collection.
As part of a policy to promote the new Flavian dynasty, Vespasian gave a greater share of coin obverses to his sons than any of his predecessors had given to their family members before him. In this way he could promote notions of dynastic longevity and seamless succession after his passing. As seen here on this coin minted under Vespasian, his son Domitian represents the imperial family. This was during a time when Domitian's role in the Flavian dynasty was to a large extent ceremonial; he held only honorary titles including Caesar and Princeps Iuventutis as well as several priesthoods: augur, pontifex, frater arvalis, magister frater arvalium, and sacerdos collegiorum omnium, but not yet any office with imperium.
Not only did Vespasian look to the future to strengthen his dynasty, but he also turned to the past in the hope of aligning his rule with other highly regarded emperors. This is evidenced by the reverse of this coin, part of a new series that used antiquarian designs. In this case a kneeling Parthian man offering up a standard is depicted, recalling a famous type minted by the moneyers Turpilianus, Florus, and Durmius c. 19/18 BC under Augustus, to commemorate the return of the Parthian standards. Furthermore, Mattingly suggests that there is a definite topical reference in the choice to re-use this particular type: the Parthians had again been pressuring Rome for help against the Alani (Harold Mattingly, 1966, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum Volume II).