Domitian. AD 81-96. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.54 g, 6h). “Germania Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck 1 January-13 September AD 87.

Electronic Auction 490
Lot: 295. Estimated: $ 2 000

Merani Collection – Roman Imperial, Gold

Sold For $ 3 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Domitian. AD 81-96. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.54 g, 6h). “Germania Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck 1 January-13 September AD 87. IMP • CΛES • DOMIT • ΛVG • GERM • P • M • TR • P • VI •, laureate head right / IMP • XIIII • COS XIII • CENS • P • P • P •, German woman (as type of Germania Capta), naked to waist, wearing breeches, seated right on oblong shield, resting head on left hand in attitude of mourning, left elbow resting on left knee, right hand on shield; broken spear below. RIC II.1 513 (R2); Calicó 882; BMCRE –; BN –; Adda –; Biaggi –; Jameson –; Mazzini –. Toned, a few marks, areas of edge filing, slight bend in flan. Good Fine. Very rare, missing from most major collections.

From the Peter J. Merani Collection. Ex Harlan J. Berk Inventory cc74082 (December 2011).

Domitian pursued military actions in Germany and Dacia in an effort to shorten Rome's frontier with the barbarian tribes to the East. Success was only achieved by Domitian’s formidable successor, Trajan, yet such competent strategic efforts by Domitian run counter to the typical derogatory bias found in the ancient authors concerning Domitian's reign. This coin, commemorating Rome's "victory" over the Germans, suggests more hopeful speculation than any concrete reality.

This magnificent reverse provides us with a record of part of a monument which has entirely disappeared, but of which fragments may survive at Rome beneath Regiones VII to X where Domitian’s architectural remains tend to cluster. Taken together with the Tropaeum Domitiani de Germanis monument, with its German male captive (Carradice, Coinage and finances in the reign of Domitian, BAR 178, 1983, pp. 24ff, 84.3), we can assemble the missing pieces into a standing marble trophy flanked by two seated captives, one male, bound and struggling, the other female, submissive and mourning for her lost liberty.

Closing Date and Time: 21 April 2021 at 11:38:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.