Silver Denarius of Domitian as Caesar under Vespasian RIC 244

Silver Denarius (19mm 3.39g) Struck A.D. 79 under Vespasian, Domitian as Caesar minted in Rome

Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI Laureate bust right

Rev:PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS Vesta seated left, holding palladium and scepter

RIC-244
ex. Pagane Coins

This is a Roman silver coin loaded with ancient family politics, propaganda, and some classic Roman mythology.

This specific piece is a Silver Denarius minted in Rome in A.D. 79. It was struck under the authority of Emperor Vespasian, but it actually features his youngest son, Domitian, who was acting as "Caesar" (a prince or heir-in-waiting) at the time.

The ancient messages stamped onto both sides of this coin tell a fascinating story.

The Front (Obverse): The Prince's Resume

On the front, you see a portrait of a young Domitian looking to the right, wearing a laurel wreath. The Latin letters curving around his head read:

• CAESAR: This isn't just a name; it’s a title meaning he is part of the imperial family and in line for the throne.
• AVG F (Augusti Filius): This translates to "Son of Augustus" (or son of the Emperor). It’s a massive flex to remind everyone in the Roman Empire exactly who his dad is.
• DOMITIANVS: His actual name!
• COS VI (Consul Sextum): This means he was serving his sixth term as a Consul. The consulship was one of the highest political offices in Rome, so this let people know he wasn't just a royal kid—he had serious political experience.

The Back (Reverse): Peace and Traditional Values

The back of the coin gets a bit more symbolic. It features a goddess sitting comfortably on a chair, holding a tiny statue in one hand and a long staff (scepter) in the other. The text reads:

This translates to "Prince of Youth." It was a special honorary title given to the young princes of the imperial family. By putting this on a coin that changed hands every day in marketplaces, the Emperor was telling the public, "Don't worry about the future of Rome, we have a great young leader ready to go."

The seated woman is Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth, home, and family. She is holding two specific items:

1. A Scepter: To represent authority and royal power.
2. The Palladium: That tiny statue she's holding is a legendary wooden image of the goddess Athena/Minerva. According to Roman myth, the original Palladium was rescued from the burning ruins of Troy and brought to Italy. It was believed that as long as Rome kept the Palladium safe, the city would never fall.

The Big Picture Meaning

When you look at this coin as a whole, it’s pure political advertising.

The Flavian family (Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian) had only taken over Rome a decade earlier after a chaotic civil war. They used coins like this to scream stability. By showing the young prince Domitian on the front and the goddess of home and eternal safety (Vesta with the Palladium) on the back, the message to the Roman people was clear: "Our family has got this covered. Rome is safe, the gods are happy, and the future is secure."

Ironically, just a few months after this coin was minted, Vespasian passed away, Domitian's older brother Titus became emperor, and eventually, Domitian himself would take the throne as one of Rome's most infamous and ruthless emperors!