Lot 2342

Description

Domitian, (A.D. 81-96), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 85, (25.99 grams), obv. around IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT PP, head laureate to right, rev. in exergue S C, around [GERMANICA CAP]TA, female captive seated left on left, male captive standing right on right, between them trophy on ground arms, (S.901, RIC 278A, C.136). Fine/ nearly fine and very rare.

Domitian soon after becoming emperor undertook an 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!