DOMITIA (Augusta, 82-96). Denarius. Rome.

Obv: DOMITIA AVGVSTA IMP DOMIT.
Draped bust right, wearing necklace.
Rev: DIVVS CAESAR IMP DOMITIANI F.
Infant boy (Divus Caesar as a baby Jupiter)seated left on globe, raising both hands; around, seven stars.

RIC² 153.

Very rare

Children sometimes appear on Roman imperial coins, but few were honoured posthumously or even deified. One of these was a newborn child born to Domitia Longina, the wife of emperor Domitian. Almost nothing is known about him except that he appeared on very rare coins bearing the portrait of Domitian or Domitia. His name does not appear in the sources and he died shortly after his birth, which probably took place in 83 AD, as Domitian divorced Domitia in that year. The emperor immediately deified him, as this denarius proves, before exiling his wife. According to Suetonius, the reason for Domitia's exile was her affair with the famous actor Paris, who was put to death by Domitian.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 2.77 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.