Diva Domitilla Senior. Died before AD 69. AR Denarius (20mm, 2.91 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Domitian, AD 82-83. Good VF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 735. Estimated: $ 5 000

Roman Imperial, Silver

Sold For $ 7 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Diva Domitilla Senior. Died before AD 69. AR Denarius (20mm, 2.91 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Domitian, AD 82-83. DIVΛ DOMITILLΛ ΛVGVSTΛ, draped bust right, hair in long plait / FORTVNA ΛVGVST, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left. RIC II.1 157 (Domitian); RSC 3; BMCRE 137 (Titus); BN 102 (Titus). Toned, porosity and scratches on reverse, area of edge chipping. Good VF.

From the S & S Collection. Ex Russel Bement, Jr. Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 51, 15 September 1999), lot 1258.

A vexing problem of Flavian numismatics is the identity of a woman named Domitilla, who died sometime before the family rose to power and was deified and honored on coinage struck under Domitian. Vespasian's wife, the mother of Titus and Domitian, was named Flavia Domitilla and was long regarded as the most likely candidate. However, Vespasian's daughter, the sister of Titus and Domitian, bore the same name and also predeceased Vespasian's rise to power in AD 69; some numismatists, notably Carradice and Buttrey in the revised RIC II (London, 2007) assign the Diva Domitilla coinage to her. A 2010 article by Susan Wood in the American Journal for Archaeology Online, again makes the case for the senior Domitilla: "Her purely symbolic but significant role in the official propaganda contrasts with the living women of Domitian's principate [his sister, Julia Titi, and his wife, Domitia], both of whom held the title of Augusta and were perceived to be rivals for power."

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Three – Lots 674-990 will be held Wednesday morning, 11 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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