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

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a woman facing right, hair tied back and up, wearing a double crown with arch in front, shoulders draped in loose fabric; surrounding the border, the Latin characters: M A T I D I A . A V G . D I V A E / M A R C I A N A E . F. The other side of the coin depicts a woman standing facing left, dressed in a long flowing garment, placing her hands on the heads of two children standing at her side and holding on to her dress; surrounding the border, the Latin characters: P I E T A S / A V G V S T.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2011.13
People
Matidia, Roman (r. 112 - 115)
Trajan, Roman (r. 98-117 CE)
Hadrian, Roman (r. 117-138 CE)
Title
Aureus of Trajan struck for Matidia, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
112-117 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/337534

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
Gold
Metal
AV
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
7.21g
Die Axis
6
Denomination
aureus
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: MATIDIA . AVG . DIVAE / MARCIANAE . F
  • Reverse Inscription: PIETAS AVGVST

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Sir Arthur Evans (? - 1934), sold; [through Jacob Hirsch, Ars Classica, Lucerne, Naville Sale XVII, 3 October 1934, lot 1389], bought in. [Spink and Sons, ?].* [UBS, Zurich, CH, Auction 78, 9-10 September 2008, lot 1621] sold. [H.D. Rauch, Vienna, Auction 85, 26-28 November 2009 lot 510]. Not sold in [Heritage-Gemini VIII, April 14, 2011 lot 327]; sold by [Harlan J. Berk ltd.] to Harvard Art Museums.

*Per correspondence with Alan Walker

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
MIR 14, 728 var.1

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, J.P. Engelcke Coin Purchase Fund
Accession Year
2011
Object Number
2011.13
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Bust of Matidia with stephane to r.
Rev.: Pietas standing facing, her head to l., in long garment, placing her hands on the heads of two children standing at her side and holding on to her dress.

Exhibition History

Subjects and Contexts

  • Google Art Project
  • Ancient Coins

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