Lot 99
Rome. Domitian, as Caesar, 72-79 AD. Gold Aureus (7.29 g), Rome mint, struck 77-78 AD. Laureate head of Domitian right. Reverse: She-wolf standing left, head reverted, suckling the infants, Romulus and Remus; COS V, boat in exergue. RIC (Vespasian) 237; BMCRE 94; C. 50; Vagi 1066; Calicó 820; Fr-159. Finely centered on almost round flan. Very lustrous. Virtually as struck. NGC graded Uncirculated.
Romulus and his brother Remus were the mythological founders of the city of Rome. They are not that commonly featured on coinage. Perhaps the most prolific issue depicting the twins suckling the she-wolf was that of the small bronzes minted at around the time of Constantine I, the Great, who ruled AD 307-337. These 4th century coins commemorated the foundation of Constantinople as the capital city of the eastern empire. Constantinople, now called Istanbul, remained the capital of the Byzantine State for 1000 years.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
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| Realized $109,250 |
