Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 460 29 Jan 2020
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Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 23.98 g, 6h). Rome mint. Group 9, Cluster 2b, circa AD 104/5-107. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Danuvius (the Danube) standing left, placing knee on Dacia, whom he forces to the ground. RIC II 556 corr. (Tiber); Woytek 199bB; Banti 233. Dark green patina, a few minor pits, some deposits. Near VF. An evocative reverse type.
From the Summer Haven Collection.
Long described as "the Tiber subduing Dacia," this rather disturbing reverse type has more recently been reassessed to reveal the figure forcing down Dacia to be Danuvius, god of the Danube. Since Dacia lay beyond the Danube frontier and seemingly outside the reach of Rome, the design metaphorically asserts that Dacia has now been (brutally) brought to heel. Modern sensibilities cannot help but make one sympathize with the supine female figure of Dacia.
From the Summer Haven Collection.
Long described as "the Tiber subduing Dacia," this rather disturbing reverse type has more recently been reassessed to reveal the figure forcing down Dacia to be Danuvius, god of the Danube. Since Dacia lay beyond the Danube frontier and seemingly outside the reach of Rome, the design metaphorically asserts that Dacia has now been (brutally) brought to heel. Modern sensibilities cannot help but make one sympathize with the supine female figure of Dacia.