Gemini, LLC
Auction 11 12 January 2014
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Domitia, Wife of Domitian. . Aureus, 7.55g (7h). Rome, c. 83 AD. Obv: DOMITIA AVGVSTA IMP DOMITIANI (counterclockwise) Bust draped right. Rx: CONCORDIA - AVGVST (clockwise) Peacock standing right. RIC 679 (R3, citing Bourgey, 6 Dec. 1961, 40). BMC 60 note, citing Montagu Sale, 1896, lot 244 (same dies as our coin). Calicó 945, illustrating the Montagu specimen. Obv. legend var. of Cohen 4 (300 Fr.). A charming aureus with a stately portrait, and very rare. Nearly EF
The second and rarest of Domitia's three issues of aurei, apparently struck from just this one obverse die. Domitia's aurei seem to fall into three issues of varying sizes, as follows: 1. RIC 150, 152, 155, 82-83 AD. Obverse legend DOMITIA AVGVSTA IMP DOMIT running counterclockwise. Two reverse types, also with counterclockwise legends: CONCORDIA AVGVST, Peacock standing right, and DIVVS CAESAR IMP DOMITIANI F, Domitian's deified infant son seated on the celestial globe. Most of Domitia's aurei belong to this issue, which is securely dated to 82-83 (a) by the fact that the corresponding denarii of Domitia were struck at the elevated weight and fineness which were used only in those two years, and (b) by the occurrence of the same obverse type of Domitia as a reverse type on aurei of Domitian, who still uses his early obverse legend IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M of 81-83 AD. 2. RIC 679, our coin, probably 83 AD, because Domitian is not yet called GERM, a title he received towards the end of 83. Obverse legend still running counterclockwise, and the same as in issue 1, but with the longer ending IMP DOMITIANI rather than just IMP DOMIT. The portrait with a more massive clump of hair from Domitia's ear to above her forehead than in issue 1. Only one reverse type, Peacock standing right, as in issue 1 but with the legend now running clockwise, in two variants: CONCORDIA AVGVST, as on Montagu 244, the Bourgey coin cited by RIC 679, and our coin, or CONCORDIA AVGVSTA, Hess-Leu, 7 April 1960, lot 318, a variant that RIC omits, the coin in question being from the same obverse die as our piece and Montagu 244. This issue was struck in gold only, without corresponding denarii, and may have used just one obverse die. 3. RIC 678, 680, 681, calling Domitian GERM, so probably dating to late 83-84 AD. Obverse legend DOMITIA AVG IMP DOMITIAN AVG GERM, now running clockwise rather than counterclockwise as before. With the same massive clump of hair in Domitia's portrait as in issue 2. Also repeating the same Peacock reverse type and clockwise reverse legend as in issue 2, but now also with a third legend variant, CONCORDIA AVGVSTI in addition to CONCORDIA AVGVST and CONCORDIA AVGVSTA. Aurei of this issue are rarer than those of issue 1, but less rare than those of issue 2. A unique corresponding denarius is also known (RIC 683). In the new RIC, pp. 252 and 314, our issues 2 and 3, despite the change of obverse legend direction and the omission of Domitian's title GERM in the first case and its inclusion in the second, are amalgamated into a single issue, and both are tentatively assigned to 88-89 AD, though with little evidence (weights of aurei, possible inclusion of living Julia Titi in same issue). Surely the aurei without GERM in a counterclockwise legend have to be separated from those with GERM in a clockwise legend, and the chronolgy for the resulting issues 2-3 suggested above is, in our opinion, more likely than RIC's (Curtis Clay)
The second and rarest of Domitia's three issues of aurei, apparently struck from just this one obverse die. Domitia's aurei seem to fall into three issues of varying sizes, as follows: 1. RIC 150, 152, 155, 82-83 AD. Obverse legend DOMITIA AVGVSTA IMP DOMIT running counterclockwise. Two reverse types, also with counterclockwise legends: CONCORDIA AVGVST, Peacock standing right, and DIVVS CAESAR IMP DOMITIANI F, Domitian's deified infant son seated on the celestial globe. Most of Domitia's aurei belong to this issue, which is securely dated to 82-83 (a) by the fact that the corresponding denarii of Domitia were struck at the elevated weight and fineness which were used only in those two years, and (b) by the occurrence of the same obverse type of Domitia as a reverse type on aurei of Domitian, who still uses his early obverse legend IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M of 81-83 AD. 2. RIC 679, our coin, probably 83 AD, because Domitian is not yet called GERM, a title he received towards the end of 83. Obverse legend still running counterclockwise, and the same as in issue 1, but with the longer ending IMP DOMITIANI rather than just IMP DOMIT. The portrait with a more massive clump of hair from Domitia's ear to above her forehead than in issue 1. Only one reverse type, Peacock standing right, as in issue 1 but with the legend now running clockwise, in two variants: CONCORDIA AVGVST, as on Montagu 244, the Bourgey coin cited by RIC 679, and our coin, or CONCORDIA AVGVSTA, Hess-Leu, 7 April 1960, lot 318, a variant that RIC omits, the coin in question being from the same obverse die as our piece and Montagu 244. This issue was struck in gold only, without corresponding denarii, and may have used just one obverse die. 3. RIC 678, 680, 681, calling Domitian GERM, so probably dating to late 83-84 AD. Obverse legend DOMITIA AVG IMP DOMITIAN AVG GERM, now running clockwise rather than counterclockwise as before. With the same massive clump of hair in Domitia's portrait as in issue 2. Also repeating the same Peacock reverse type and clockwise reverse legend as in issue 2, but now also with a third legend variant, CONCORDIA AVGVSTI in addition to CONCORDIA AVGVST and CONCORDIA AVGVSTA. Aurei of this issue are rarer than those of issue 1, but less rare than those of issue 2. A unique corresponding denarius is also known (RIC 683). In the new RIC, pp. 252 and 314, our issues 2 and 3, despite the change of obverse legend direction and the omission of Domitian's title GERM in the first case and its inclusion in the second, are amalgamated into a single issue, and both are tentatively assigned to 88-89 AD, though with little evidence (weights of aurei, possible inclusion of living Julia Titi in same issue). Surely the aurei without GERM in a counterclockwise legend have to be separated from those with GERM in a clockwise legend, and the chronolgy for the resulting issues 2-3 suggested above is, in our opinion, more likely than RIC's (Curtis Clay)