Denarius of Domitian

The denarius of the Roman Emperor Domitian (minted between 92–93 AD) was discovered during fieldwork in 1849 in the vicinity of Wysoka Gryfińska. The obverse represents theEmperor Domitian’s head with a laurel wreath, turned to the right. Around the image, on the coin’s rim, is the inscription IMP CAES DOMIT AVG-GERM P M TR P X. The reverse depicts the image of the upright Minerva figure, known from mythology as the goddess of arts, crafts, wisdom, science, and literature. The goddess is standing on the capital of a column turned to the right, wearing a decorative dress. In her right hand, she holds a raised spear, and on her left shoulder rests a raised, round shield. By her left, forward foot, we can see a figure of an owl. The reverse rim has the inscription IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P. During the Roman Republic period, denarii were the primarily silver coins used for trades and taxes. However, in the Roman Empire period, the coins were devaluated because of numerous reforms (reducing the silver content) of Emperor Nero, and later of Septimius Severus in particular. Still, they had a great value in the northern Barbaricum territories, outside the Roman Empire boundaries.

Monika Witek