Domitian Sixth Issue of 88-89 AD Denarius

[David Atherton]

This Domitian denarius may not look like much, but to me it's a minor 'white whale'. It's the last coin I needed to complete the elusive sixth issue of 88-89. I would be curious to know if any other collector has them all.

 

 

Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.17g
Rome mint, 88-89 AD (sixth issue)
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: IMP XXI COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2)
RIC 675 (R2). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex Harlan J Berk, MBS 224, lot 198. Ex Curtis Clay Collection.

All the denarii from the sixth issue of 88-89 are quite scarce, perhaps struck for only a few weeks or days prior to 14 September 89, upon which Domitian became TRP VIIII. The first Pannonian War may account for the rapid succession of imperial acclamations awarded to Domitian during the summer of 89. This M2 type is missing from both the BM and Paris collections.

 

In hand.

 

 

As always, thank you for looking!