Lot 4453

Description

Domitian, (A.D. 81-96), silver denarius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 88-9, (3.16 g), obv. laureate head of Domitian to right, around IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII, rev. COS XIIII across, column inscribed LVD/SAEC/FEC all within oak-wreath, (S.2725, BMC 137, RIC 115, RSC 70). Toned, good very fine and very scarce.

Secular Games was one of the most solemn of the Roman Festivals.
The principal types celebrating the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) of AD 88 appeared on the aes denominations of Domitian's coinage. When Augustus decided to stage his Secular Games, the length of the saeculum was fixed at 110 years. Domitian's celebration of his Ludi Saeculares in A.D. 88 rather than 93 would seem to suggest that Augustus' games of 17 B.C., had been postponed from an originally intended date of 22 B.C. However, Severus' games of AD 204 were apparently calculated from the actual date of the celebration of the Augustan festival (courtesy of CNG for comment).