96 | Roman Empire

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DOMITIAN. Denarius. (Ar. 3.42g / 20mm). 76-77 AD Rome. Anv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS. Laureate bust to the right of Domitian. Rev: Pegasus on the right, above: COS IIII. (RIC 921). AU. Beautiful rare specimen as well. Nice and light iridescent tone.
On September 14, 81, Domitian was appointed emperor, as well as maximum pontiff and pater patriae. He continued the reconstruction work of his predecessor and brother Titus and was the last exponent of the Flavian dynasty. He made the Senate an obsolete institution by concentrating governmental powers in his hands. In his opinion the Empire should be governed by a divine monarchy led by him ... the step towards despotism was a fact. In his coin, he continues an artistic style inspired by the portraits of his predecessors, where realism prevails as a trend when sculpting coins. The money of Domitian and the Flavian dynasty, in general, marks a turning point in terms of quality. From his successor, Trajano, a decrease in the artistic level can be verified. Perhaps the existence of a new school in the workshop in Rome was the cause of the changes, among which, above all, less accentuated and rounded features stand out.