Domitian AD 81-96. Rome
Denarius AR

18 mm, 3,33 g

CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, Salus standing right, resting upon column to right, holding and feeding serpent from patera.

Very Fine

RIC II 1084 (Vespasian).

Domitian, full name Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus, was a Roman Emperor who ruled from AD 81 to 96. Born on October 24, AD 51, he was the second son of the Roman Emperor Vespasian and younger brother to Titus. Domitian's family, known as the Flavian dynasty, played a crucial role in stabilizing the Roman Empire after the turmoil of the Year of the Four Emperors in AD 69. Upon the death of his brother Titus in AD 81, Domitian ascended to the throne as the Roman Emperor. His rule was marked by both accomplishments and controversies. Domitian pursued ambitious building projects, including the restoration of the Roman Forum and the construction of the Domus Flavia on the Palatine Hill. He also strengthened the Roman economy, initiated agricultural reforms, and invested in public infrastructure. However, Domitian's autocratic style of rule and his conflicts with the Senate led to tensions and a series of purges. He faced opposition due to perceived tyranny, censorship, and a repressive regime. Despite his accomplishments, his authoritarian governance style made him unpopular among certain factions. In AD 96, Domitian was assassinated in a conspiracy involving members of his own court, leading to the brief Year of the Four Emperors. His successor, Nerva, became the next Roman Emperor, initiating the Nervan-Antonian Dynasty.