Domitian Denarius 86 CE (First Issue)

Domitian AR Denarius (19mm, 3.30g, 6h). Rome mint, struck 86 CE (First Issue).

IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V, head laureate right; IMP XI COS XII CENS P P P, Aventine Minerva replica (ἀπεικόνισμα) standing right on processional litter (ferculum), with spear and shield, owl to right (M2).

RIC 427 (R), BMC 90 p. 318 note , RSC 74.

Purchased from James Hazelton

Struck before September of 86 CE, this denarius is part of a rare issue. All coins of this issue with 2 exceptions are rare to very rare. I bought this coin for 2 reasons. First, I bought it for the dates of the imperial acclamations IMP and COS on the reverse. I did not have this dating combination so I wanted it for my collection. The other reason was the portrait. I really like the look of this portrait. It definitely has its own style. It has both veristic and artistic features. I liked this combination very much. Clearly the celator was a person of some talent.

While many might consider these Minerva types boring or dull, I do not. I like comparing the dates and I really like seeing the different styles of portraits used on the obverses of these coins.