Domitian, 81-96. Denarius (Subaeratus, 19 mm, 2.11 g, 6 h), a contemporary plated imitation. Irregular mint, Rome, after 86. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V Laureate head of Domitian to right. Rev. IMP XII COS XII [CE]N[S] P P P Minerva standing front, head to left, holding thunderbolt in her right hand and spear in her left; at her feet, shield. Cf. BMC p. 319, ‡, Cohen 202 and RIC 439 (for prototype). Beautifully toned and unusually well preserved for a plated imitation. Very minor breaks in plating, otherwise, good very fine.


Given its weight of only 2.11 g, the piece would normally be readily identifiable as a plated imitation. Yet its excellent style and near-intact plating would make it easy to overlook - especially if it circulated among a larger group of denarii, for instance in a purse.