Domitius Domitianus BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 2 = AD 297/8. ΔOMITIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right / Draped bust of Sarapis to left, wearing ornate kalathos; L-B (date) across fields. BMC Alexandria 2625 = Emmett 4243.2; Dattari (Savio) 10820; K&G 126.8. 7.66g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other example in CoinArchives, sold in 2006.

From the inventory of a German dealer.

Whilst the dating of the revolt of Domitius Domitianus has been the subject of much debate, the coins issued in his name suggest that he did not control the Alexandrian mint until shortly before his second regnal year (starting 29 August 296). Upon gaining control of the mint, Domitianus revived the local billon which Diocletian had ceased to issue around March 296, while continuing to issue bronze on the imperial standard. Whilst the reasons for this are unknown, it has been suggested by A. Johnson ('Lucius Domitius Domitianus Augustus' in Classical Philology, Vol. 45, No. 1, 1950) that there was an influential section of Egyptian society who preferred the old familiar billon, while others realised the commercial advantage of the uniform currency introduced by Diocletian.

Despite this, Diocletian's swift and brutal invasion of Egypt put an end to the revolt of Domitianus, marking the end of the Alexandrian system of coinage and that of Roman provincial coinage as a whole. The mint at Alexandria was to be closed shortly after Diocletian regained control of Egypt and imperial currency was made uniform throughout the empire.