DOMITIAN Titus Flavius Domitianus Augustus (13/09/81-18/09/96) As. Ae. 82 BC. Rome. 26.1 mm. 9.6 g. RIC.242 b - C.589 - BMC/RE.283 d/ IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG P M. Laureate head of Domitian facing left r/ TR P COS VIII - DES VIIII P P / S C. Helmeted Minerva, standing right, armed with a shield in her left hand and brandishing a javelin in her right. Busts facing left are much rarer. Domitian, born in 51, became Augustus in 81. In 86, the Capitoline Games were held for the first time. The Flavian Palace was erected on the Palatine Hill. In 88, the secular games were celebrated with great pomp. A first campaign was launched against Dacia, which ended in a compromise peace, leaving Decebalus in control of the situation. Domitian had just won a brilliant campaign against the Sarmatians and the Suebi (IMP XXII). Agricola died in disgrace on 23 August 93. In 95, Domitian had his cousin Flavius Clemens executed. The following year, Domitian was assassinated at the instigation of his wife and the Praetorian prefect.
