Description
Titus Flavius Domitianus, as Caesar of the Flavian Dynasty under Vespasian 69-79 AD, Gold Aureus (7.17g, 20mm), Rome mint 73-74 AD. Obverse: Laureate head of Domitian facing to the right, laurel wreath tied with bow which flows down behind, legend surrounds, “CΛES ΛVG F DOMIT COS II”. Reverse: Domitian on horseback leaping to the left, raising right hand and holding sceptre surmounted by a human head in left. Sear-2627; RIC-679 Vesp; Cohen-663; Calicó-811. An overall very attractive Aureus – the obverse is choice with a bold and archetypically Flavian portrait of a young Domitian; the reverse type only adds to the interest and collectability by featuring the Caesar in proud military splendour with an understated yet nonetheless impactful design, atypically anepigraphic, despite some abrasions to right obverse field, which do not detract from the overall eye appeal, details are good Very Fine, reverse Very Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Caesar, Augusti fīlius, Domitiānus, Cōnsulāritās secundum”, with an English translation of “Caesar, Son of the Augustus, Domitian, with the honour of the office of Consul in his second term”. This gold Aureus was struck at the time of Domitian’s second appointment as Consul in 73 AD, hence the title of Cōnsulāritās secundum – interestingly, of the six total consulships Domitian held during his life, Domitian’s appointment in 73 AD was an ‘ordinary’ Consulship, the five others were the less prestigious, ‘suffect’ position. Despite the distinction, each appointment were nonetheless recorded on his coinage, which explains why his later titulature as sole ruler following Titus’ death state honours such as Cōnsulāritās quīntum or sextum.
