Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXII 7-8 Oct 2021
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Divus Trajan, with Plotina (wife of Trajan), AV Aureus. Rome, AD 117-118. DIVO TRAIANO PARTH AVG PATRI, laureate and draped bust to right / PLOTINAE AVG, diademed and draped bust to right. RIC II.3 2448 (Hadrian); BMCRE 50 (Hadrian, same dies); Strack 21; Biaggi 554 (same dies); Calicó 1141 (same dies). 7.23g, 19mm, 7h.
Extremely Fine, well-centred. Extremely Rare.
From the Kingsdown Collection.
Struck soon after Trajan's sudden death while on campaign against Parthia on 8-9th August AD 117, the legend DIVO TRAIANO (to the divine Trajan) of this rare aureus speaks to Trajan's posthumous deification by the senate at the request of his successor Hadrian.
This extremely rare example has 'PARTH' rather than 'PART' to denote 'Parthicus' - 'conqueror of the Parthians', a title which the senate voted to Trajan on February 20th AD 116 as part of a momentous celebration of his victories on the empire's eastern borders, for which he was also awarded a posthumous triumph when Hadrian returned to Rome from the East.
The coin closely follows Trajanic style with long legends and small imperial portraits of Hadrian's adoptive parents, underscoring a central theme of continuity in Hadrian's early coinage and is thus to be seen a means of reinforcing the legitimacy of his adoption and accession, which was not uncontroversial. The obverse legend makes this explicit with the inclusion of a new title for Trajan: AVG PATRI (father of the emperor).
While the Historia Augusta charts Hadrian's relationship with Trajan from the time of the Dacian war in 101 BC and mentions several events which hinted towards his succession, his adoption seems to have been a messy affair. (3.2-10) He was by no means a weak candidate: as Trajan's ward and grand-nephew-in-law (he was married to Trajan's closest eligible relative Vibia Sabina), he had held consulships, waged wars, and at the time of Trajan's death was governor of Syria. Some scholars (Bennett 2000) have argued that Hadrian was acknowledged by Trajan as his heir designate on coinage before Trajan's death with the legend HADRIANO TRAIANO CAESARI (BMC, p.124), but most date this type after Hadrian's accession and ascribe it to a ruse on Plotina and Hadrian's part. (Birley 1997, Burnett 2008). The Historia Augusta has him adopted by Trajan two days before the latter's death, but also alludes to a rumour that Plotina, who was with Trajan on campaign, smuggled an impersonator in after the emperor's death to declare Hadrian adopted (4.10). Ultimately, ancient sources are divided on the legitimacy of Hadrian's adoption, with Cassius Dio viewing it as a sham.
Imperial women have often been surrounded by intrigue of this sort (Cassius Dio declares that Plotina 'was in love with' Hadrian) (69.2), but in the early second century actually enjoyed little influence and power in comparison to Julio-Claudian empresses. Scholars note the break with strictly dynastic monarchy and the possibility of ascension by adoption or force behind the reduction of the power of imperial women, which could no longer be tied to and justified by their reproductive role in transfer of power.
Despite the rumours of manoeuvring her favourite into the throne, Plotina appears the model of modesty and devoted subservience in her comportment and imagery: despite having been awarded the title of Augusta in AD 100, she did not accept the honour until 105, and had no coinage issued in her name until some very limited issues in AD 112-114: the present portrait depicts an austere, middle-aged widow with wrinkles, a sagging chin and a complex yet restrained hairstyle without the extravagant ringlets popular in the Flavian period.
Extremely Fine, well-centred. Extremely Rare.
From the Kingsdown Collection.
Struck soon after Trajan's sudden death while on campaign against Parthia on 8-9th August AD 117, the legend DIVO TRAIANO (to the divine Trajan) of this rare aureus speaks to Trajan's posthumous deification by the senate at the request of his successor Hadrian.
This extremely rare example has 'PARTH' rather than 'PART' to denote 'Parthicus' - 'conqueror of the Parthians', a title which the senate voted to Trajan on February 20th AD 116 as part of a momentous celebration of his victories on the empire's eastern borders, for which he was also awarded a posthumous triumph when Hadrian returned to Rome from the East.
The coin closely follows Trajanic style with long legends and small imperial portraits of Hadrian's adoptive parents, underscoring a central theme of continuity in Hadrian's early coinage and is thus to be seen a means of reinforcing the legitimacy of his adoption and accession, which was not uncontroversial. The obverse legend makes this explicit with the inclusion of a new title for Trajan: AVG PATRI (father of the emperor).
While the Historia Augusta charts Hadrian's relationship with Trajan from the time of the Dacian war in 101 BC and mentions several events which hinted towards his succession, his adoption seems to have been a messy affair. (3.2-10) He was by no means a weak candidate: as Trajan's ward and grand-nephew-in-law (he was married to Trajan's closest eligible relative Vibia Sabina), he had held consulships, waged wars, and at the time of Trajan's death was governor of Syria. Some scholars (Bennett 2000) have argued that Hadrian was acknowledged by Trajan as his heir designate on coinage before Trajan's death with the legend HADRIANO TRAIANO CAESARI (BMC, p.124), but most date this type after Hadrian's accession and ascribe it to a ruse on Plotina and Hadrian's part. (Birley 1997, Burnett 2008). The Historia Augusta has him adopted by Trajan two days before the latter's death, but also alludes to a rumour that Plotina, who was with Trajan on campaign, smuggled an impersonator in after the emperor's death to declare Hadrian adopted (4.10). Ultimately, ancient sources are divided on the legitimacy of Hadrian's adoption, with Cassius Dio viewing it as a sham.
Imperial women have often been surrounded by intrigue of this sort (Cassius Dio declares that Plotina 'was in love with' Hadrian) (69.2), but in the early second century actually enjoyed little influence and power in comparison to Julio-Claudian empresses. Scholars note the break with strictly dynastic monarchy and the possibility of ascension by adoption or force behind the reduction of the power of imperial women, which could no longer be tied to and justified by their reproductive role in transfer of power.
Despite the rumours of manoeuvring her favourite into the throne, Plotina appears the model of modesty and devoted subservience in her comportment and imagery: despite having been awarded the title of Augusta in AD 100, she did not accept the honour until 105, and had no coinage issued in her name until some very limited issues in AD 112-114: the present portrait depicts an austere, middle-aged widow with wrinkles, a sagging chin and a complex yet restrained hairstyle without the extravagant ringlets popular in the Flavian period.