Denarius - Domitian IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva

Domitian's obsessive accumulation of imperial titles — tracked meticulously across his coinage — makes pieces like this one useful chronological anchors. IMP XXI dates the issue to 90 AD with unusual precision, as Domitian accepted each imperatorial salutation individually rather than in batches, and his chancery updated the reverse legends accordingly. COS XV marks his fifteenth consulship, which he held annually from 82 AD onward, normalizing what earlier emperors had treated as an exceptional honor.

Domitian was assassinated in 96 AD, after which the Senate declared damnatio memoriae. His coins were not officially recalled, but many were defaced in private.