Domitian, as Caesar, 69-81. As (Copper, 26 mm, 10.69 g, 7 h), Rome, 77-78. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS V Laureate head of Domitian to right. Rev. S - C Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus with six columns; within, three statues; on apex of roof, quadriga; at each end of architrave, Victory in biga. BMC -. Cohen -. RIC 1293. Very rare and of great historical interest. An attractive piece with a pleasant brown patina and an excellent rendering of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Very light corrosion, otherwise, very fine.
The Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was the most important sanctuary in Rome. It stood on the Capitoline Hill and burned down on several occasions throughout its history, the second of which was during the civil war of 69 AD, when Vespasian's troops entered the city and Domitian, who had been living in Rome, escaped barely alive from the heavy fighting on the Capitoline Hill. Vespasian rebuilt the temple, but it was destroyed again only a few years later in the great fire of 80 AD and it was only Domitian's own reconstruction that would eventually survive until the rise of Christianity in late antiquity