Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Domitilla II. Silver Denarius (3.50 g), Augusta, ca. AD 82/3. Rome, under Domitian, AD 82/3. DIVA DOMITILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Domitillia II right, hair in curls on forehead and braided in long plait down back of neck. Reverse FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC 157; BMC 137; RSC 3. Boldly struck on a huge flan and well centered on both sides. An incredible example, lustrous with hints of light golden toning. Extremely rare and among the finest known specimens. Superb Extremely Fine.

Although the first edition of RIC II assigns this exceptionally rare and spectacular denarius to Domitilla I, the wife of Vespasian, it is a coin of Domitilla II, the sister of Titus and Domitian. The coin is undated, but metrological evidence indicates that it was struck after Domitian's monetary reform of AD 82, specifically to the year 82/3 (see Carradice, Coinage and Finances in the Reign of Domitian, AD 81-96, pp. 16-22). The title of Augusta - which surprisingly was not mentioned by any ancient author - was given posthumously to the younger Domitilla, probably at the same time that Domitian's wife Domitia was awarded the title.
Estimated Value $30,000-UP.
Ex Numismatica Genevensis 7 (27-28 November 2012), 348; NAC 41 (20 November 2007), 63.