Domitian, 81-96 Aureus 92-94 (?), AV 19.80 mm., 7.52 g.
DOMITIANVS – AVGVSTVS Bare head r. Rev. GERMANICVS Domitianus driving slow quadriga l., holding laurel branch in r. hand and sceptre in l. C 138. BMC –. RIC 750. Calicó 827.

An exceedingly rare variety of a very rare type. An elegant and bold portrait of fine style struck on a broad flan. Very interesting and historically significant issue, About Extremely Fine/Good Very Fine.

Domitian harboured an inferiority complex toward his brother and father. In the matter of military glory, the jealousy was acute: his brother had led the siege of Jerusalem, and his father had led most of the war in Judaea, and had won much glory in his earlier years, including the ornamenta triumphalia for his command in Claudius' invasion of Britain. Domitian had always been eager for a military command, and Suetonius (Domitian 1) tells us that when his father established his government in Rome, Domitian wanted glory so badly that he "planned a quite unnecessary expedition into Gaul and Germany, from which his fathers friends managed to dissuade him". In actuality, his skills in the art of war were enviable: he is said to have been able to shoot an arrow between the spread fingers of a hand without fail. His first campaign – which this well-composed issue celebrates – was against the Chatti in 83. Domitian led a perfectly successful campaign in which the Chatti were roundly defeated and the Roman border was extended beyond the Rhine. In honour of this victory Domitian was hailed Germanicus, won a triumph, and even had an arch erected. The series of coins he struck for several years are especially beautiful and imaginative compared with the rather pedestrian issues of his later years.Domitian harboured an inferiority complex toward his brother and father. In the matter of military glory, the jealousy was acute: his brother had led the siege of Jerusalem, and his father had led most of the war in Judaea, and had won much glory in his earlier years, including the ornamenta triumphalia for his command in Claudius' invasion of Britain. Domitian had always been eager for a military command, and Suetonius (Domitian 1) tells us that when his father established his government in Rome, Domitian wanted glory so badly that he "planned a quite unnecessary expedition into Gaul and Germany, from which his fathers friends managed to dissuade him". In actuality, his skills in the art of war were enviable: he is said to have been able to shoot an arrow between the spread fingers of a hand without fail. His first campaign – which this well-composed issue celebrates – was against the Chatti in 83. Domitian led a perfectly successful campaign in which the Chatti were roundly defeated and the Roman border was extended beyond the Rhine. In honour of this victory Domitian was hailed Germanicus, won a triumph, and even had an arch erected. The series of coins he struck for several years are especially beautiful and imaginative compared with the rather pedestrian issues of his later years.