89 AD. Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TR P VII legend with laureate head right. Rev: IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS P P P legend with Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, shield at feet. RIC 139; RSC 251; Sear 2732.3.12 grams. ("). From the private collection of a retired Suffolk gentleman. The son of Vespasian, Domitian resented being kept in the background during his father's reign, so when he eventually succeeded to the imperial throne, Domitian's demeanour and behaviour was consequently highly autocratic. History characterises him as one of the worst tyrants of the Roman age. However, he was an apt military leader, the first emperor to campaign in person since Claudius in 43 AD. He restored the temple of Jupiter on the Capitol and added to the imperial palace on the Palatine. He improved the weight and quality of the precious metal coinage and increased military pay by 1/3. He ordered regular public spectacles, banquets and Secular Games. His relations with the Senate were poor however; he ordered the execution of twelve ex-consuls, ultimately leading to his assassination by knife in his private apartments on 18th September 96 AD. [No Reserve]