Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 2, Lot: 350

ROMAN EMPIRE. Domitilla II (daughter of Vespasian). AR denarius (3.46 gm). Rome, struck by Domitian, AD 82-83. 

DIVA DOMITILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right 
FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder 
and cornucopia. 
BMCRE (Titus) 137. CBN (Titus) 102. Cohen 3 (400 Fr.). Very 
rare. Excellent portrait. Good very fine 

The title AVGVSTA on this rare denarius proves that it 
must be assigned to Domitilla II because she 
was Augusta, whereas that title is never given to 
Domitilla I. The fineness of denarii of this type proves 
that were struck 82-85 when Domitian temporarily raised the 
fineness of denarii from ca. 90% to ca. 98%. 
The Domitilla for whom Titus struck sestertii in 80-81, 
was his mother, Domitilla I, as shown by the variant legend 
DOMITILLAE IMP CAES VESP AVG on some of these coins, i.e. 
"For Domitilla, wife) of the emperor Vespasian. 

Sold for $6,000 USD [ approx 4560 EUR, 3180 GBP 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 
Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear 
(www.freemanandsear.com) and Harlan J Berk 
(www.harlanjberk.com).