136
Rare Cuirassed Bust of Domitian Denarius
3137
Domitian. Silver Denarius (3.66 g), as Caesar,
AD 69-81.
Ephesus, under Vespasian, AD 71.
DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F, bare-headed
and cuirassed bust of Domitian right, aegis on
breastplate.
Reverse:
PACI AVGVSTAE, Victory
standing right, holdingwreath and palm; in low-
er right field, EPE. RIC1447; RPC848; BMC473;
RSC 336.
Very Rare.
An outstanding example
of this rare issue. Well struck in excellent metal
and attractively toned.
Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value......................... $3,000 - 3,500
Ex Imagines Imperatorvm Sale (Aureo & Calicó,
8 February 2012), 72.
3138
Domitian. Silver Denarius (3.34 g), as Caesar, AD 69-81.
Rome,
under Vespasian, AD 76/7. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, lau-
reate head of bearded Domitian right.
Reverse:
COS IIII above,
Pegasus standing right, pawing ground with foreleg. RIC 238;
BMC 193-5; RSC 47. Well struck on a large flan and perfectly
centered, all attractively toned.
Superb Extremely Fine.
The image of Pegasus on this issue is normally shown stand-
ing right, pawing the ground with his foreleg. There is one rare
die, however, which shows him rearing instead of pawing (see
Edston Hoard 91, CHRB 10, pl. 17). There are many reasons
why horses paw at the ground, and most equine behavior-
ists will say the animal is either nervous or irritated. However,
when the head is held in a high position, it usually means that
the animal is establishing dominance. Of course, the an-
imal on this coin is not a horse but a pegasus; it seems the
engraver was attempting to convey the same idea, though.
Estimated Value ......................................................$1,000 - 1,300
Ex Roma V (23 March 2013), 723.
