Domitianus

Domitian (81-96) also, is known to have punished with death Christian members of his own family on the charge of atheism (Suetonius, "Domitianus", xv).

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

While it's likely that Domitianus killed Victorinus to gain control of the Gallic throne, it is unclear if he was actually the slighted soldier Aurelius writes about.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

In any case, we know that Domitianus 'reign must have been extremely short, for the rule of his successor, Tetricus began only months later.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

However, neither source says that Domitianus proclaimed himself emperor, a curious omission that also led historians to originally doubt the authenticity of the 1900 coin.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

The coin features Domitianus wearing a crown of radiant rays of light on the obverse, or heads side, with an inscription bearing a common imperial suffix: Imp (erator) C (aesar) Domitianus P (ius) Felix Aug (ustus), Emperor Caesar Domitianus, the dutiful and fortunate augustus.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

It is unlikely that Domitianus would have ever seen Rome, or even the Italian peninsula; the common Roman citizen probably knew as much about him as we do today, that is, almost nothing.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

Domitianus, the man featured on the coin, seems to have grabbed power in the short interlude between the death of the emperor Victorinus in A.D. 271 and the accession of Tetricus later that year.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

Zosimus, writing about the reign of Aurelian (A.D. 270-275), says only, "Epitimius, Urbanus, and Domitianus, were suspected of commiting treason [by Aurelian], and were immediately apprehended and punished."

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

They were both written a century after Domitianus 'reign in A.D. 271, and combined, devote fewer than 30 words to the usurper.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005

Because the Domitianus coin was found fused together with thousands of other coins, all inside a Roman clay jar, its authenticity was unquestionable.

Finding a Lost Emperor in a Clay Pot 2005