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Silver Denarius (3.26 g 17.7mm) Struck A.D. 77-78 Rome
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS
Laureate bust right
Rev COS V She wolf and twins above a boat
RIC II 241 (Vespasian) Sear 2639
ex. Agora Auctions Numismatic Sale #8 lot 8-101 4-22-2014
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The Front (Obverse): A Prince in Waiting
The front shows the head of Domitian, but he isn't the emperor yet. At this time, his dad, Vespasian, is running the Roman Empire. Domitian is just a young prince (a "Caesar") waiting in the wings.
- The Picture: Domitian is looking to the right, wearing a laurel wreath on his head like a crown.
- The Text: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS
- Translation: "Caesar, Son of the Augustus, Domitian." (The AVG F stands for Augusti Filius, meaning "son of the Emperor"). This was a huge shoutout to his dad to prove he is next in line for the family business!
The Back (Reverse): Rome's Origin Story
The back of the coin dips deep into Roman mythology to send a powerful message about the strength and rebirth of Rome.
- The Picture: You can see the legendary Lupa (the famous she-wolf) standing over the twin babies, Romulus and Remus, who are looking up to nurse. Underneath them is a curved object that looks like a little boat or a cradle.
- The Story: According to Roman myth, the evil king threw the baby twins into the Tiber River in a basket. The basket floated down the river and washed ashore, where a friendly she-wolf found the babies and raised them. Romulus grew up to build the city of Rome!
- The Text: COS V
- Meaning: This stands for Consul Quintum, meaning Domitian was serving his fifth term as a consul (a high-ranking government official). Because history books track exactly what years he held this job, we know this coin must have been stamped between A.D. 77 and 78.
Why did they make this coin?
This coin is pure political advertising!
A few years before this was made, Rome went through a massive, chaotic civil war (the "Year of the Four Emperors"). Domitian's family, the Flavians, won the war and took control. By putting Rome's ultimate origin story on a coin, the new royal family was saying: "Just like the baby twins survived the river and built a grand empire, Rome has survived the civil war and is being reborn stronger than ever under our rule!"
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