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Domitian. AD 81-96. AV Aureus (21mm, 7.43 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck AD 84. IMP CAES DOMI TIANVS AVG GERMANIC, laureate and draped bust left / P M TR POT III IMP V COS X P P, draped bust of Minerva right, wearing crested helmet. RIC II.1 195; Calicó 906 (this coin illustrated); BMCRE 45; BN –; Biaggi 441 (this coin). Unobtrusive edge marks. Good VF. Two superb portraits of fine style. Very rare, one of two examples in CoinArchives.
From the PLZ Collection. Ex Leo Biaggi de Blasys Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 49, 21 October 2008), lot 169, purchased from Seltman in 1956 for $350; Münzen und Medaillen AG XV (1 July 1955), lot 750.
Words don't do justice to wonderful reverse portrait of Minerva, along with a great provenance. (PLZ)
Titus Flavius Domitianus was born in AD 51 as son of the respected general Vespasian and the younger brother of Titus. A significant part of his adolescence was spent in Rome while Vespasian and Titus were abroad, engaged in military campaigns. His education was formal but did not include any early military postings. He was still in Rome during the Year of the Four Emperors, which would culminate with his father becoming emperor. Although his role in the coup d’état was nominal, Domitian would immediately become Vespasian’s emissary with the Roman Senate since it would be almost 10 months before Vespasian actually set foot in the city.
His role in his father’s 10-year reign remained relatively minor, although he was given the title of Caesar and served a single full consulship. Domitian held no major office or titles under the brief reign of Titus, but since Titus had no male child, Domitian was widely understood to be his nominal heir. When Titus died in June of AD 81, the Praetorian camp immediately proclaimed Domitian emperor and the senate concurred just a day later.
Domitian’s rule was one of absolute power and he oversaw almost every aspect of the government. Suetonius, often a critic of the Twelve Caesars, openly admired Domitian’s even-handed approach to the management of the empire. He instituted a large building program which saw more than 50 structures either erected or repaired in Rome. Although now lost, his stadium of Domitian, today the Piazza Navona, endures in layout even if the above-ground portion is lost to history. His other famous building projects included the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, the Flavian Palace, and completion of the Arch of Titus and a fourth level to the Colosseum.
As emperor, he spent significant periods away from Rome on military campaigns and inspections. Although not a natural soldier like his father and brother, he had one overriding need: to equal their deeds and prove himself a great conqueror. He toured Gaul, ordered excursions into Ireland and Scotland, traveled to Moesia to turn back incursions by the hostile Dacians, and undertook campaigns to strengthen the German frontier by defeating the Chatti and occupying the Agri Decumates, a region at the junction of the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Although none of these efforts provided any decisive victory, Domitian still celebrated triumphs in the capital, for which he was derided by later historians, perhaps unjustly.
In AD 89, major revolt by the governor of Germania Superior, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, proved a serious threat to Domitian’s rule, but his swift and ruthless reaction successfully put it down. Afterward, Domitian’s disregard for the Senate deepened into outright hatred, a sentiment returned by the senators. His final years of rule devolved into a reign of terror. His closest advisors soon came to fear for their own lives and ultimately launched a successful conspiracy that took his life on September 18, AD 96. The elderly Senator Nerva was acclaimed in his place, inaugurating the era of the so-called “Five Good Emperors.”
As a youth, Domitian came to favor the warrior goddess Minerva (equivalent of the Greek Athena) above all others. Indeed, his later coinage is dominated by images of Minerva, with 79 varieties depicting her image. He is known to have had a shrine to her in the palace and kept several effigies of her in his bedroom. This extremely rare gold aureus was engraved by a master celator with spectacular renditions of both Domitian and Minerva. Our consignor made an excellent choice including this specimen in his set.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session One – Lot 1-318 will be held Monday morning, 18 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
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