Domitian, 81-96. Aureus (Gold, 19.5 mm, 7.50 g, 6 h), Rome, 92-94. DOMITIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Domitian to right. Rev. GERMANICVS COS XVI Germania, in attitude of mourning with her torso bare, seated on shield to right, holding her head with her left hand and resting her right on the shield on which she sits; below, broken spear. BMC 211. BN 187. Calicó 854. Cohen 163. RIC 747. Rare. A lovely, toned and sharply struck coin with a fine portrait and a powerfully evocative reverse. Good extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 54, 24 March 2010, 389.

Domitian was, in many ways, quite a good emperor, though his relationship with the aristocracy was rather poor; since Roman historians usually came from that class, our view of him is a negative one. He had been deliberately kept in the background during the reigns of his father and brother, but he was prepared for rule when Titus unexpectedly died of a fever in 81. While Domitian was quite popular with the army – he spent a good deal of time with the soldiers on various campaigns that were designed to stabilize the frontiers – true military triumphs were rare. His self-described major victory was that over the Chatti in 83, which he commemorated on coins like this. Such coins were struck beginning in 84 and continued to be issued throughout his reign. As for the Chatti, the prisoners taken by the Romans were kept in small rooms known as Mansiunculas Chattis, where they were fed but had nothing to do but talk to each other.