Titus Flavius Domitianus succeeded his brother Titus in AD 81 as emperor. He was victorious in Germany and triumphed in Britain the following year. In AD 88 Domitian held secular games and negotiated peace with Dacia the next year. Domitian emphasised the cults of both Jupiter and in particular Minerva, his patron goddess, frequently displayed as reverse types on his coins. After an affair with his niece Julia, Domitian became extremely unpopular as a ruler and his reign was marked by increasing terror. He was assassinated in AD 96.

The period of Domitian's reign witnessed a strong Hellenistic influence in coin portraiture. Domitian is depicted as a very dignified emperor with a long neck, a firm chin and proudly poised head. Early coins show him with a curly hairstyle and locks falling over his forehead. The style changed after his succession in AD 81 - his hair became neatly arranged over his forehead, in style very similar to the fashion depicted on coinage of Nero.

Obv. Domitian facing left, CAES DIVI F DOMITIAN.
Rev. Minerva standing, shield at feet, S C. Struck under Titus.

Obv. Laureate Domitian right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII. Domitian's victories in Germany earned him the title Germanicus in AD 83.

Rev. Minerva standing, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at feet, IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS P P P. Domitian assumed perpetual censorship from AD 85 on. Struck AD 88/89.

Obv. Domitian laureate bust right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIII CENS PER P P.
Rev. Moneta standing left holding scales and cornucopia, MONETA AVGVSTI. In AD 84 a new mint was established and from this year on Moneta as reverse type appeared on bronze coinage struck under Domitian until the end of his reign.

The dupondius and as were of similar size and could be distinguished by the difference in colour - yellow orichalcum (dupondius) and red copper (as).
Obv. Domitian laureate right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER PP.
Rev. Virtus standing right, holding spear and parazonium, left foot on helmet, VIRTVTI AVGVSTI SC. These coins probably recall the victories over the German and Dacian tribes of the late eighties. Between AD 92 and AD 94 Domitian had also successfully contained an incursion of the combined forces of the Sarmatians and Suevi in Pannonia.