Lot 4362

Description

Domitian, (A.D. 81-96), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 86, (26.52 grams), obv. around IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS POT PP, head laureate to right, rev. in exergue S C, around GERMANIA CAPTA, female captive seated left on left, male captive standing right on right, between them trophy on ground arms, (S.2765, RIC 312, C.-); another as Caesar, Rome mint, issued 80-81, (25.10 grams), obv. around CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIAN[VS AVG] VII, laureate head to right, rev. PAX AVGVST around, Pax standing to left, holding branch and cornucopiae, S C across, (S.2680, RIC 155b, C,342). First with obverse porosity and Tiber patina, otherwise fine and very rare; second very good/nearly fine and very scarce. (2)

The first coin relates to Domitian who soon after becoming emperor undertook a campaign against the Catti, a German tribe. He failed to engage them but took it upon himself to take the honours of a triumph and to take the surname Germanicus. He apparently bought slaves, dressed them in the manner of Germans, and passed them off as captives from this campaign. He struck this issue to commemorate this so called victory!