Owner Comments:
Domitian wasn’t a particularly popular Roman Emperor. To be fair, his predecessors, namely brother Titus and father Vespasian before him, were tough acts to follow, having earned fame for their military prowess. Domitian, on the other hand, focused on micromanaging Rome’s regulations and religious doctrines. Also contributing to Domitian’s low approval rating was his paucity of heirs. In a last-ditch effort, the Emperor adopted his two grand-nephews, one of whom, known as Vespasian II or Vespasian Junior, appears on this ancient bronze coin.
Only a handful of such coins survive today, and die studies suggest that very few were produced in the first place. This coin originated in Smyrna, a prominent ancient city strategically located in western Anatolia on the Aegean Sea. Smyrna had sown ties with Rome ever since Hellas’ wane in 2nd century BC; specifically, the Smyrneans created a cult of Rome. Besides the goddess Roma, many other deities were worshipped at Smyrna, including Nike, who appears on the reverse of this coin. The obverse features the bare-headed bust of a boy, accompanied by the inscription OYECΠACIANOC NEΩTEPOC, indicating “younger Vespasian.” Although there has been some debate over this coin’s attribution, current opinion favors Vespasian Junior. As such, it represents the only coin struck for Vespasian Junior. There are no known coins struck for this brother, Domitian Junior, who was also adopted by Domitian.
Vespasian Junior's reign as Caesar didn't last for long. Soon after this coin debuted, Vespasian Junior's father, Titus Flavius Clemens, was executed on charges of atheism, the victim of an increasingly paranoid Emperor Domitian. Since we hear nothing of the fate of Vespasian Junior afterwards, it is very likely that Domitian, in an egregious change of heart, also eliminated his successors.
In the end, Domitian neither protected himself nor propagated his Flavian dynasty. After Domitian's murder in 96 AD, a wary Senate choose a more moderate successor, Marcus Cocceius Nerva, as the next ruler of the Roman Empire. As for Vespasian Junior, his legacy was not Rome's throne, but at least in his ignominious end he played his part in ushering in a new Golden Age.
Coin Details: IONIA, Smyrna, Vespasian II (Circa 88-95/6), Ae (2.93 g, 16 mm), Struck under Domitian, NGC Grade: Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface 2/5, Obverse: Bare head right, OVЄCΠACIANOC NΕΩTEPOC, Reverse: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm frond, ZMYPNAIΩN, References: BMC 319; Klose, XLII,1, plate 31; RPC II 1028.