Busacca Gallery

Rare Secular Games Issue: Ancient Roman Coin Domitian, Caesar: 69-81 A.D. Emperor: 81-96 A.D. Bronze Dupondius, 32mm (11.31 grams) Minted in Rome: September 14 - December 31, 88 A.D. Reference: RIC 623; Sear '88 #910 This beautiful and very collectible coin is estimated and valued at over $1,800, and we will verify its availability upon your price inquiry. At BusaccaGallery.com, we vet all customers for transactions over $5,000 to ensure a secure and satisfactory experience for both parties. Please read the innovative story and watch the informative video we provide for each piece of these highly collectible works of art. If interested please contact us. Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P, showing a laureate head facing right. Reverse: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC, depicting Domitian standing to the left, sacrificing from a patera over an altar. A hexastyle temple is visible in the background, with two attendants playing the harp and panpipes on the left. "SC" appears in the exergue. Condition: VF (Very Fine), rare. A comparable example sold for $3,950 at CNG's coin shop. In 88 A.D., Domitian initiated the Saecular Games (LVDI SAECVLVM), a festival to commemorate the start of a new age, or saeculum. The games, first celebrated in either 348 or 249 B.C., were meant to be held every 100 to 105 years. However, after 146 B.C., the schedule was disrupted by civil wars and other disturbances, with the next saeculum celebrated only when Augustus revived the tradition in 17 B.C. Claudius, following an earlier calculation, held his games in 47 A.D., but Domitian traced his Saecular Games back to Augustus’ celebration, 105 years earlier. The reverse of this beautiful coin depicts Domitian inaugurating the games with a sacrifice before the Temple of Jupiter Stator, accompanied by two musicians playing flutes. Condition: AVF (About Very Fine), with a rare and captivating reverse scene.

The Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares) were a series of grand public celebrations held in ancient Rome to mark the end of one saeculum (an era or generation, thought to be 100 or 110 years) and the beginning of a new one. They were meant to symbolize renewal and divine favor for the empire. Early History of the Secular Games The tradition of the Secular Games is thought to date back to the Roman Republic. According to Roman historians, the games were first celebrated in either 348 B.C. or 249 B.C., but accounts vary. These early celebrations were tied to religious rites aimed at securing the gods' protection and blessings for the new age. The games were originally associated with the underworld gods (Dii Manes) and involved sacrifices to deities such as Dis Pater and Proserpina. They were meant to occur at the end of a saeculum, which was a period that some sources defined as the longest possible lifespan of a human being—usually around 100 to 110 years. The Saecular Games Under Augustus By the time of Emperor Augustus, the games were revived and redefined as a more organized and public spectacle. Augustus, looking to legitimize his rule and connect himself with Rome’s historical and mythological past, held the games in 17 B.C., claiming it marked the start of a new era for Rome. His games were associated with Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, and Diana, signaling a shift in the religious focus of the celebrations. Augustus’s Secular Games included sacrifices, theatrical performances, and chariot races, with much emphasis on invoking divine blessings for the prosperity and longevity of the Roman Empire. The games were accompanied by the famous "Carmen Saeculare," a hymn composed by the poet Horace for the occasion. Domitian’s Secular Games (88 A.D.) After Augustus, the games were celebrated sporadically. Emperor Domitian, who ruled from 81 to 96 A.D., revived the Secular Games in 88 A.D., marking a full 105 years since Augustus’ celebration, which Domitian chose as the reference point for the timing of his games. His decision to hold the games was not based on historical accuracy but rather on symbolic continuity with Augustus, reflecting Domitian’s desire to legitimize his reign through divine favor and historical tradition. During Domitian's Secular Games, which coincided with the 14th year of his reign, various public spectacles were held, including sacrifices, athletic contests, and performances. The emperor himself participated in the rituals, offering sacrifices at the Temple of Jupiter Stator. Coins, like the bronze dupondius featuring Domitian sacrificing at an altar with musicians, were issued to commemorate these events. Purpose of the Games The primary purpose of the Secular Games was to celebrate the renewal of Rome's fortunes and to seek divine protection for the coming saeculum. They offered an opportunity for the emperor to align himself with the gods, project his power, and legitimize his rule by connecting it to the ancient traditions of Rome. The games reinforced the idea of Rome as an eternal city, under the continuous favor of its gods. In summary, the Secular Games were deeply symbolic events, reflecting Rome's cyclical view of time and its need for renewal through divine intervention. Domitian's games in 88 A.D. were one of the rare instances when this ancient festival was held, and they served both religious and political purposes for the empire.