Ancient Rome - 81-96 CE Domitian AV Aureus NGC AU - She-Wolf with Twins rev
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6156817001
It is with great pride that we present one of the great rarities of ancient Roman numismatic art: 81-96 CE Domatian "as Caesar" AV Aureus, graded NGC AU "She-Wolf with Twins." Domitian Caesar 69-81 CE. Struck 77-78 CE. Vespasian was emperor, but his son and Caesar Domitian was on this coin. Obverse has laureate head of Domitian right with CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS. (Domitian as Caesar, the son of Augustus, consul for the fifth time.) The reverse presents a she-wolf with twins. Above is COSV. In exergue, boat. The reverse dramatizes a foundation myth of Rome. Roman coins often told a story, albeit often with a propagandistic bent. Vespasian, by offering the imagery of the she-wolf nursing the twins, shows that he wants to heal Rome after a devastating civil war, and return it to its original values. Vaspasian may very well have been drawing a parallel between Romulus and Remus and his own sons, Titus and Domitian. Through his propaganda, Vespasian emphasized that his sons were heirs to the throne, and would therefore ensure future peace after years of Roman civil war and insecurity about the future of the Roman empire itself. This is a beautiful coin, well struck and centered--a shimmering golden treasure! C 50. BMC Vespasian 237. RIC Vespsian 960. CBN Vaspasian 210. Calico 820.
The Roman foundation myth tells us that it was a she-wolf that sheltered and nursed the twins Romulus and Remus after their abandonment in the wild upon the order of King Alulius of Alba Longa. She cared for the babies in her den, a cave called the Lupercal, until they were discovered by a shepherd, Faustulus. Later Romulus would become the founder and first king of Rome. The image of the she-wolf nursing the twins, as found on this coin, has been a symbol of Rome since antiquity. It is one of the most iconic images of ancient mythology. The wolf held a special place in ancient Italy. One legend tells us that the Hirpini people were so named because when they founded their first colony, they were brought to it by a wolf (from the Osco-Umbrian word for wolf: hirpus). The story of the Lupercal is of major importance to that of Romulus and Remus, and possibly predates theirs. The Roman god Mars considers the wolf a sacred creature. There appears to be a connection between the ancient Roman festival of the Lupercalia and wolves. The wolf also appears in Greek mythology. Apollo's mother Leto reportedly gave birth to him as a she-wolf to evade Hera.
| Grading Service | NONE |
|---|---|
| Year of Issue | NONE |
| Grade | NONE |
| Denom Type | N/A |
| Numeric Denomination | AV Aureus |
| Mint Location | NONE |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Not Specified |
| Strike Type | N/A |
| Holder Variety | Strike 5/5; Surface 3/5 |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
