Give Domitian Some Spes

[David Atherton]

I unboxed yet another rare bronze from Vespasian's reign on Christmas Eve. This one is presumably from somewhere in Asia Minor and features Domitian Caesar on the obverse. The rarity is notable, but the portrait is quite stylish too. 

 

Domitian as Caesar [Vespasian]
Æ25, 8.80g
Ephesus (?) mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG F; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: COS V PRINCEPS IVVENTVT; S C in field; Spes stg. l., with flower
RIC 1519 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. RPC 1486 (1 spec.).
Ex Lukas Kalchhauser, November 2024.

Late in Vespasian's reign a rare series of orichalcum bronze coins were struck in Asia Minor at an unknown mint. Although imperial in appearance, the style, weight system, and metal used all point to a mint other than Rome. Due to their extreme rarity today, they could not have been struck for any great length of time (the date cannot be narrowed down any further than Vespasian's COS VIII, 77-78 AD). The types consist of ones variously copied from either Rome or local provincial issues. A stylistic similarity with the earlier 'o' mint denarii possibly struck at Ephesus has been noted by both RIC and RPC. Two denominations were produced for Domitian Caesar - one medium sized similar in weight to an as, and a second smaller one similar to a semis. This medium bronze features Spes (the goddess of hope) on the reverse, copied from a very common type at Rome. Missing from both the BM and Paris collections. RIC cites one example from the Ashmolean.

In hand.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Thanks for looking.

Edited December 25, 2024 by David Atherton

[Roman Collector]

Lovely coin, @David Atherton! The video shows it off nicely. Here's Spes on an as of one of my favorite emperors, Antoninus Pius.

Antoninus Pius, 138 – 161 CE.
Roman Æ as, 11.13 g, 27.0 mm, 12 h.
Rome, December, 142-143 CE.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head, right.
Rev: IMPERATOR II, Spes, advancing left, holding flower in right hand and lifting drapery of skirt with left hand.
Refs: RIC 730; BMCRE 1619; Cohen 444; Strack 938; RCV --.

[CPK]

An attractive coin David! And rare too. Perfect for Christmas Eve!

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice coin. Merry Christmas all.