Both sides of an irregularly shaped gold coin with relief decoration on each side.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a man facing left, clean shaven with short tendrils of curly hair held in place with a laurel wreath, loose clothing draped over shoulders; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: I M P / C A E S / D I V I / V E S P / F / D O M I T I A N / A V G. The other side of the coin depicts a woman seated on a highly decorated hexagonal shield facing right, bare chested and draped from the waist down, knees bent with left arm raised placing head in hand in a show of mourning: below, a broken spear; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: G E R M A N I C V S / C O S / X.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.248
People
Domitian, Roman (r. 81 - 96 CE)
Title
Aureus of Domitian, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
84 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period, Early
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/195436

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Gold
Metal
AV
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
7.8 g
Die Axis
6
Denomination
aureus
Date on Object
IMP V COS X
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG
  • Reverse Inscription: GERMANICVS COS X

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
From the H. Montagu Collection: Rollin & Feuardent 1896 lot 232

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
RIC II 2, 201 p.279

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.248
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Bust of Domitian, laureate and draped to l.

Rev.: Germania mourning seated on shield, below, broken spear.

Publication History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, exh. cat., Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1973)

Exhibition History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 01/31/1973 - 03/14/1973
  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Coins

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Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu