Denarius - Domitian P P COS VII DES VIII

Struck in 81 AD, the year Domitian succeeded his brother Titus following the latter's death from fever in September. The COS VII DES VIII dating places this issue firmly within the earliest months of Domitian's reign — he had held seven consulships under his father Vespasian and Titus, and the designation of a forthcoming eighth was a standard assertion of dynastic continuity. RIC II.1 #8 is among the first denarii attributable solely to his principate.