Both sides of an irregularly shaped bronze coin with relief decoration on each side.　
obverse Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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obverse Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a man facing right, curly tendrils of hair held in place with a laurel wreath, cloak draped around shoulders; surrounding the border, the Latin characters: I M P / C A E S / N E R V A E / T R A I A N O / A V G / G E R / D A C / P / M / T R/ P / C O S / V / P P. The other side of the coin depicts a woman standing facing left, draped in flowing clothing, holding a branch in right hand, a horn shaped vessel in left, her right leg raised with foot on the shoulders of a small man; surrounding the border, the Latin characters: S / P / Q / R / O P T I M O / P R I N C I P I /S /C.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2005.115.128
People
Trajan, Roman (r. 98-117 CE)
Title
Sestertius of Trajan, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
103-107 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/20324

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Metal
AE
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
25.79 g
Die Axis
6
Denomination
sestertius
Date on Object
COS V
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V PP
  • Reverse Inscription: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Collection of Margarete Bieber

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
MIR 200; BMC III 801

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Celia and Walter Gilbert, Claude-Claire Grenier, and the Marian H. Phinney Fund
Accession Year
2005
Object Number
2005.115.128
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Bust of Trajan, laureate r. with aegis on l. shoulder
Rev.: Pax draped, standing left, holding branch in r. hand, cornucopiae in l, treading down Dacian, whose head and shoulders are seen.

Exhibition History

  • Re-View: S422 Ancient & Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/12/2008 - 06/18/2011
  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

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Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu