A New Roman For My Collection!

Striking coin!

I recall from my art history studies @ the university that Roman art had two prevailing stylistic conventions in their statues. One of stark realism for public servants, more common in Republican times, which slowly gave way to more idealized features, particularly for the emperors. Whenever I look at Roman coins, I wonder how much is realism and how much is style?/idealization? I would suspect more stark features reflect an actual characteristic of their face. However, there is really little factual reference to know what they looked like?

Thanks for commenting guys!

About the portraits, I would say that the earlier (1st century, 2nd century) coins had the most accurate portraits, since -I read somewhere- that when making the dies for the obverse they used marble head busts for references. Now, I don't know if later die engravers (after early 4th century) did the same thing, but I kind of believe they hardly did or not at all, since the portraits aren't at all as detailed as those coins from earlier centuries. I do wonder why late imperial coins' portraits look less artistic and more "cartoony" than earlier coins.

Thanks echizento and happy b-day to you too!

Just checking: only the city of Rome was allowed to mint silver coins at that time, am I right?

Thanks echizento.

I thought Romans generally favored the Roman nose? Or did Domitian himself just not like it and so had it less prominent on his coins during his rule? BTW nice obverse on your coin jw.