Copper As of Domitian as Augustus RIC 385a

Copper As (29mm 10.35g) Struck A.D 88-89. Rome

Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P Laureate head right

Rev: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC S C Domitian sacrificing over and altar facing left, harpist and flute player facing right, temple in background

RIC II 385a
ex Imperator Coins (Joe Mastrario)

What makes this specific coin absolutely cool  is that it is essentially an ancient commemorative event flyer! It celebrates one of the biggest parties Imperial Rome ever threw: the Saecular Games (Ludi Saeculares).

The front and back tell a fascinating story about Domitian's power, his ego, and how he threw a massive festival to make Romans feel safe and blessed.

The Front (Obverse): The Emperor's Resume

On the front, you see a portrait of Domitian wearing a laurel wreath. Around his head is a dense ring of abbreviations. Think of this as his official Twitter bio or resume, screaming all of his powerful titles at the public:

• IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM: Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus. This says he is the supreme military commander, the ultimate ruler (Augustus), and the conqueror of Germany.
• P M: Pontifex Maximus. He's the high priest of Roman religion—basically the religious boss of the empire.
• TR P VIII: Tribunicia Potestas VIII. He has held the power of the Tribune (which gave him the power to veto laws and protect the people) for 8 years.
• CENS PER P P: Censor Perpetuus, Pater Patriae. He is the "Censor for Life" (meaning he controls who gets to be a Senator and monitors Roman morals forever) and the "Father of his Country."

The Back (Reverse): Party of the Century!

The back of the coin is where things get really cool. It shows a highly detailed scene of Domitian performing a religious ritual during the Saecular Games of 88 A.D.

The text reads: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC / S C

• COS XIIII: Means he was in his 14th term as Consul (the highest political office).
• LVD SAEC FEC: Short for Ludi Saeculares Fecit—literally, "He conducted the Saecular Games."
• S C: Senatus Consulto, meaning it was struck with the official approval of the Roman Senate.

What were the Saecular Games?

A saeculum was considered the absolute longest possible span of a human life (usually calculated as 100 or 110 years). The Romans believed that when a saeculum ended, the era of everyone alive at the last games had passed, and it was time to completely purify the city and start a fresh, bright new age. The slogan for these games was that they were a festival "which no one alive had ever seen before, and no one would ever see again."

Reading the Artwork:

Look closely at the scene depicted on the back:

1. The Emperor: On the left, you see Domitian dressed in a traditional toga, leaning over a small altar to pour out a sacrifice to the gods.
2. The Band: Facing him are two musicians—one playing a harp (lyre) and another playing a flute (tibia). Music was required during Roman sacrifices to drown out any bad-luck noises or background chatter that might upset the gods!
3. The Venue: In the background, you can see the outline of a temple, likely representing the Capitolium or another sacred spot in Rome where these special midnight or daytime rituals took place.

The Big Picture Meaning

Domitian was a deeply unpopular emperor with the wealthy Senate, and he was famously paranoid. To keep the ordinary, everyday citizens of Rome on his side, he used coins like this to say: "Look at me! I am your pious high priest. I have safely closed out the old century, cleansed our sins, and am personally ushering Rome into a glorious, prosperous new age with epic festivals and music."