Almost Uncirculated Roman Empire silver denarius coin. Struck for Emperor Domitian (last of the 12 Caesars, brother of Emperor Titus and son of Emperor Vespasian) at the Rome Mint. Dated TR P XI COS XVI IMP XXI = 92 CE. Superb realistic portrait of the Emperor (appears the die cutter considered drapery or an aegis on the chest, but gave up when the legend encroached on the portrait). 3.34g, approx 19mm, RIC 168, RSC 272. NGC Certified to AU, Strike 4/5 Surface 5/5 (rare near max subgrades). Lightly toned with luster, very attractive in hand! Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI, laureate head of Domitian right. Reverse: IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at her feet. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, commerce, handicrafts, poetry, the arts in general, and later, war. Considered the daughter of Jupiter, from whose head she was born, the goddess was first worshipped in Rome as one of the Capitoline Triad along with Jupiter and Juno.
