First Fortuna for Domitian

[David Atherton]

I was quite happy recently to acquire this rather fetching Domitian dupondius with a stylish portrait. Fun fact: the reverse feature the first occurrence of Fortuna on Domitian's bronze coinage.

 

 

Domitian

Æ Dupondius, 12.16g
Rome mint, 85 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI; Head of Domitian, radiate, bearded, r., with aegis
Rev: FORTVNAE AVGVSTI; S C in field; Fortuna stg. l., with rudder and cornucopiae
RIC 291 (C). BMC -. BNC 329 corr. (missing aegis).
Acquired from CGB.fr, August 2022.

This common Fortuna type was repeatedly struck throughout Domitian's reign on his middle bronze coins from 85 onwards. She also fleetingly showed up on the denarius in 82. Mattingly calls this Fortuna 'the special Fortuna that watches over the imperial office'. Suetonius writes that near the end of Domitian's reign on 1 January 96 'The Fortuna of Praeneste, which throughout the whole time he was emperor had habitually given him a happy and virtually the same answer to him whenever he entrusted the new year to her care, finally gave a most gloomy answer - and not without the mention of blood.' This variant is missing from both the BM and Paris collections with aegis portrait.

Feel free to post your firsts!

Thanks for looking.

[Prieure de Sion]

4 minutes ago, David Atherton said:

with a stylish portrait

This is a stylish Porträt of Domitian. Like it.

[Roman Collector]

That's lovely, @David Atherton! I love the patina with the brassy highlights.

I have many coins featuring Fortuna, but these are Faustina the Elder's first coins to depict the goddess.
 

Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 3.83 g, 18.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust, right
Rev: AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder
Refs: RIC 348; BMCRE 360; Cohen 6; RCV 4577.
Note: Overstruck on previous issue, perhaps a CONCORDIA seated issue of Sabina.


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.12 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, Bust of Faustina I, draped and veiled, right.
Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and long rudder, vertical in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1107b; BMCRE 1499-1500; Cohen 8; Strack 1267; RCV 4608 var.
Notes: Obverse die-match to BMCRE 1499.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Roman Collector said:

That's lovely, @David Atherton! I love the patina with the brassy highlights.

I have many coins featuring Fortuna, but these are Faustina the Elder's first coins to depict the goddess.
 

Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 3.83 g, 18.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust, right
Rev: AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder
Refs: RIC 348; BMCRE 360; Cohen 6; RCV 4577.
Note: Overstruck on previous issue, perhaps a CONCORDIA seated issue of Sabina.


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.12 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, Bust of Faustina I, draped and veiled, right.
Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and long rudder, vertical in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1107b; BMCRE 1499-1500; Cohen 8; Strack 1267; RCV 4608 var.
Notes: Obverse die-match to BMCRE 1499.

Wow 😮! That's a lovely MS denarius ☺️.

[ambr0zie]

Great coins!

Here is my Domitian with Fortuna, an As from 90-91. It has a great green color and the chips are much less distracting in hand.