Naville Numismatics Ltd.
Auction 35 29 Oct 2017
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Trajan, 98-117 Sestertius circa 112-114, Æ 35mm., 26.16g. Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. View of the Portum Traiani: the basin of the harbour surrounded by warehouses; ships at anchor in the centre. Below, S C. C 306. RIC 632.
Very rare, brown-green patina, Fine/Good Fine.
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection.
It is difficult to imagine the quantities of goods that were imported to Rome, a city of more than a million people at its peak. Much of it came overland along the empire's highways, but more still arrived by ship to port-cities, principally Ostia, Rome's main harbour at the mouth of the Tiber. The original harbour was improved significantly in a construction project begun by Claudius and completed by his successor, Nero. New docks were excavated to the north along the Tiber, which were linked to the harbour by two canals. However, they silted up easily, so the problem of the old harbour's limitations remained. Thus, Trajan created a second port, further inland, which could be accessed directly from the old Claudian port. Though not much remains of the Claudian port, the docks from Trajan's hexagonal port are still well preserved on the Torlonia estate. Also discernible is the large canal that linked Trajan's port with the Tiber, allowing goods to be unloaded from seafaring ships onto smaller vessels, including barges, which would bring them up the Tiber to Rome. A wide road seems to have traced the route of the canal, and it is clear that Trajan wanted not only to construct a practical harbour for consistent grain deliveries, but also to impress merchants from throughout the world with a grand entry to the capital of the empire. In addition, winning bids of EEC clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.
Very rare, brown-green patina, Fine/Good Fine.
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection.
It is difficult to imagine the quantities of goods that were imported to Rome, a city of more than a million people at its peak. Much of it came overland along the empire's highways, but more still arrived by ship to port-cities, principally Ostia, Rome's main harbour at the mouth of the Tiber. The original harbour was improved significantly in a construction project begun by Claudius and completed by his successor, Nero. New docks were excavated to the north along the Tiber, which were linked to the harbour by two canals. However, they silted up easily, so the problem of the old harbour's limitations remained. Thus, Trajan created a second port, further inland, which could be accessed directly from the old Claudian port. Though not much remains of the Claudian port, the docks from Trajan's hexagonal port are still well preserved on the Torlonia estate. Also discernible is the large canal that linked Trajan's port with the Tiber, allowing goods to be unloaded from seafaring ships onto smaller vessels, including barges, which would bring them up the Tiber to Rome. A wide road seems to have traced the route of the canal, and it is clear that Trajan wanted not only to construct a practical harbour for consistent grain deliveries, but also to impress merchants from throughout the world with a grand entry to the capital of the empire. In addition, winning bids of EEC clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.