Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Trajan, 98 – 117.
Aureus 112-114, AV 7.29 g. IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Façade of Trajan's forum showing main entrance flanked by a double colonnade; above, sculptured frieze with three facing quadrigae and two standing soldiers. In exergue, BASILICA VLPIA. C 168 var. (not cuirassed). BMC 509. RIC 257. CBN 685. Woytek 409f. Calicó 1031.
Very rare and in unusually good condition for this difficult issue. A bold portrait
of fine style, two minor edge marks at four and nine o'clock on obverse,
otherwise about extremely fine
Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 219, 2014, 394.
Many Roman emperors were fond of architecture, and consequently of striking coins with architectural types, but in this regard, we must acknowledge that Trajan was the most prolific of them all. On this aureus we have a depiction of his marvellous forum, represented by the façade of its entrance. It appears as a building of six columns with its central entrance flanked by four distyle shrines, each containing a statue and situated beneath a circular shield. The roof supports an array of statues and statuary groups: in the centre is a facing chariot of six horses; the outermost horses are assisted by standing warriors, and the whole scene is flanked by military trophies and figures of Victory. The forum was dedicated in 112 or 113, the coin types presumably were struck in 115, and the final touches seemingly were completed about two years later. Trajan struck a variety of Imperial coins with architectural reverses, including many with identifiable statues and statuary groups, such as Trajan's equestrian statue and the castellum of the Aqua Traiana. Foremost among his other architectural types are his basilica, the Circus Maximus, the 'Danube bridge,' a hexagonal harbour, a triumphal arch, Trajan's Column, a richly ornamented gateway to Area Capitolina, the temple of Jupiter Victor and an octastyle temple which may be that of Honos, or perhaps the one eventually dedicated by Hadrian to Trajan and Plotina that occupied the end of the forum opposite the entrance depicted on this aureus.
Aureus 112-114, AV 7.29 g. IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Façade of Trajan's forum showing main entrance flanked by a double colonnade; above, sculptured frieze with three facing quadrigae and two standing soldiers. In exergue, BASILICA VLPIA. C 168 var. (not cuirassed). BMC 509. RIC 257. CBN 685. Woytek 409f. Calicó 1031.
Very rare and in unusually good condition for this difficult issue. A bold portrait
of fine style, two minor edge marks at four and nine o'clock on obverse,
otherwise about extremely fine
Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 219, 2014, 394.
Many Roman emperors were fond of architecture, and consequently of striking coins with architectural types, but in this regard, we must acknowledge that Trajan was the most prolific of them all. On this aureus we have a depiction of his marvellous forum, represented by the façade of its entrance. It appears as a building of six columns with its central entrance flanked by four distyle shrines, each containing a statue and situated beneath a circular shield. The roof supports an array of statues and statuary groups: in the centre is a facing chariot of six horses; the outermost horses are assisted by standing warriors, and the whole scene is flanked by military trophies and figures of Victory. The forum was dedicated in 112 or 113, the coin types presumably were struck in 115, and the final touches seemingly were completed about two years later. Trajan struck a variety of Imperial coins with architectural reverses, including many with identifiable statues and statuary groups, such as Trajan's equestrian statue and the castellum of the Aqua Traiana. Foremost among his other architectural types are his basilica, the Circus Maximus, the 'Danube bridge,' a hexagonal harbour, a triumphal arch, Trajan's Column, a richly ornamented gateway to Area Capitolina, the temple of Jupiter Victor and an octastyle temple which may be that of Honos, or perhaps the one eventually dedicated by Hadrian to Trajan and Plotina that occupied the end of the forum opposite the entrance depicted on this aureus.