Ancient Rome - 81-96 CE Domitian AV Aureus NGC Choice XF Fine Style

Domitian. 81-96 CE. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.45 g, 6h). Rome Mint. Struck AD 82. Obverse: IMP CΛES DOMITIΛNVS ΛVG P M, laureate head right. Reverse: TR POT IMP II COS VIII DES VIIII P P, bust of Minerva left, wearing crested helmet and aegis. RIC II 139; Calicó 937 (same dies as illustration); BMCRE p. 304, 33 note; BN 37; Biaggi –; Jameson –; Mazzini –. Very lustrous example. NGC Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5.

From the Provence Collection.

For unknown reasons, Minerva was highly favored by Domitian and became virtually the only Roman deity honored on his silver and gold coinage as Augustus. He also founded a legion in her name, Legio I Minervia.

Fresco of Minerva from Herculaneum (1st century AD). Photo: wikipedia.

Minerva is the Roman goddess of justice, wisdom, victory, law, as well as the sponsor of the arts, trade, and strategy. She is not a patron of violence as is Mars, but of defensive wars only. Starting in the 2nd century BC, Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. Along with Jupiter and Juno, Minerva is one of the three Roman deities in the Capitoline Triad. She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving and the crafts. She is often presented with her sacred creature, an owl usually called the "owl of Minerva" which symbolized her association with wisdom and knowledge.