Sestertius - Domitian S C

Domitian's sestertii of 85 AD were struck in the immediate aftermath of his assumption of the title "Germanicus" following campaigns against the Chatti — a title he awarded himself despite considerable senatorial skepticism about the military's actual achievements. Tacitus and Pliny the Younger were both scathing. The S C authorization formula on bronzes of this period remained a nominal senate prerogative, though under Domitian that body exercised no meaningful control over monetary policy.

RIC II.1 #279 falls within a tightly documented emission sequence; the updated Carradice-Buttrey revision significantly reshuffled earlier RIC numbering for this reign, so older auction references citing the first edition require cross-checking.