History flipped on its head
The face of a forgotten Emperor has recently emerged from the Oxfordshire mud.
A coin bearing the depiction and legend of Domitianus, a previously unknown Roman ruler, was found by 'metal detective' Brian Malin.
The coin, one of five thousand found cemented together in a pot in an Oxfordshire field, is now re-writing history.
After conservation at the British Museum, the true value of the find was discovered. Dr Heuchert, an expert in coins at the Ashmolean Museum, told The OxStu that it is "very important," as it "confirms that he [Domitianus] really existed as an Emperor."
Domitianus is known from brief references as a high ranking official, but was never referred to as an emperor.
A coin bearing the legend 'Domitianus' had previously been found in the Loire region in France in 1900, but was dismissed as a modern hoax, and Domitianus' existence has since been seriously doubted.
However the discovery of the British coin, along with other coins from the late third century, has confirmed his existence and status.
It is widely believed that Domitianus ruled the secessionist Gallic Empire, which split from the main Roman Empire in the late third century AD, after Rome suffered one of its greatest defeats. In the resulting turmoil, instability swept through the Empire.
It is likely however that he ruled for a period of only a few weeks before being overthrown, a fact that explains his erstwhile relative anonymity.
Dr Heuchert added that the Ashmolean "hopes to acquire the entire hoard." However, with such an unprecedented find, The OxStu understands that the price of the discovery could reach five figures.
3rd Apr 2004