Domitian augustus, 81 – 96. Aureus 95-96, AV 19 mm, 7.41 g. DOMITIANVS – AVGVSTVS Bare head r. Rev. GERMANICVS COS XVII Minerva standing l., holding spear. C 165. BMC p. 343 note*. RIC 780 (this coin ?). CBN –. Calicó 856. Very rare. A bold and unusual bare portrait in the finest style of the period struck in high relief and good extremely fineGraded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5 – Fine Style, NGC photo certificate number 8567766-003 Ex NAC 71, 2013, Huntington, 227 and NAC 141, 2023, 220 sales. Ex HSA 22280. Minerva, the goddess of war, was the patron of Domitian. He had a shrine for her in the palace, dedicated at least two temples to her in Rome and, beginning in 83, he used her image on what would seem to be the majority of his coins. The emperor declared himself to be the son of Minerva, and the relationship between them is a recurring theme of Martial's epigrams. The poet Statius, who was a firsthand observer in the reign of Domitian, even describes the emperor as wearing a toga that Minerva had woven for him. His patronage of Minerva can be understood in the context of the Flavian dynasty, whose members took pride in their success in war: Vespasian had emerged triumphant in the Civil War of A.D. 68-69, Titus was victorious against the Jews, and Domitian – whose resentment and inferiority complex made him eager to exceed his father and brother – launched campaigns against the Germans, Dacians, Sarmatians and other foes. In all, he accepted twenty-three Imperial salutations – more than Augustus himself, and he staged at least two triumphal processions. On most of Domitian's coins Minerva is shown standing in what Carson identifies as four distinct varieties. Sometimes she holds only a spear, or a spear and a thunderbolt, but more commonly she holds both a shield and a spear. Other times she rests a foot on a ship's prow and is accompanied by an owl. Please find here the video of the coin