Roma, 9.4.2021
Egregio
Lettore,
riporto di seguito gli elementi significativi
riguardanti la moneta di figura:
Denario1,
zecca di Roma, 128-136 d. C., RIC II
743 (pag. 299), BMC III
651 (pag. 125), Cohen II
4 (pag. 100),
indice di rarità "R3"
Descrizione
sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della
leggenda usurate o comunque non leggibili):
D. DIVA AVGVSTA -
MARCIANA2.
Marciana, busto drappeggiato a destra, diadema sulla
testa, davanti al quale i capelli sono raccolti su
tre file parallele, dietro annodati in uno chignon.
R. CONSECRATIO3. Aquila ad ali
spiegate, stante a sinistra su uno scettro, ala
destra in parte sotto lo scettro, testa a destra.
La ricerca nel web di monete della tipologia di
figura ha dato luogo ai seguenti risultati:
- vcoins
988.76€ Rates for: 04/08/21. Roman Imperial Diva
Marciana, Augusta, circa 105-114 AD AR Denarius
Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, 114 AD. Diademed
and draped bust right with elaborate hairstyle /
CONSECRATIO, eagle standing left, head right,
wings spread 3.11g, 18-19mm, silver. RIC II 743
(Trajan); Woytek 719; RSC 4; BMCRE III 650
(Trajan). Marciana was sister to Trajan and mother
to Matidia. Marciana held the title of Augusta
starting around 105 AD. She died in 112 AD and was
deified in September of that year. Coins honoring
her were probably all struck around the time of
her deification.
- https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=99763
Finest Known Diva Marciana Denarius 784148. Sold
For $37500. Diva Marciana. Augusta, circa AD
105-112/4. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.28g, 7h). Rome
mint. Struck under Trajan, 114 AD . DIVA. AVGVSTA
MARCIANA, diademed and draped bust right /
CONSECRATIO, eagle standing left, head right,
wings spread. RIC II 743 (Trajan); RSC 4; BMCRE
650 (Trajan). Superb EF, gold and gray toning.
Finest Known. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts VI, 27-28
February 1979, lot 709. There is very little is in
the historical record of Ulpia Marciana, Trajan's
sister. Unlike many other imperial relatives
during the Empire, she is thought to have been of
very high character. During Trajan's reign,
Marciana lived as a widow, and did not take
another husband. Marciana was a close friend of
Trajan's wife, Plotina, and both jointly accepted
the title of Augusta in 105 AD (which they had
both rejected in 98 AD). The date of her death is
debatable, and although some scholars believe she
died in the year she was hailed Augusta, her death
is commonly placed in 112 or 114 AD.
- moruzzi
DIVA MARCIANA, DENARIO, + 112 d.C., CONSECRATIO
aquila ad ali spiegate, zecca di Roma, ARGENTO,
mBB, (RRR), (RIC 743/R3) / monete romane imperiali
antiche rare d'argento (moneta romana imperiale
antica rara - Impero Romano). DIVA MARCIANA,
Sorella di Traiano, 98-117 d.C., DENARIO,
Emissione: + 112 d.C., Zecca di Roma, Rif. bibl.
R.I.C., 743/R3; Cohen, 4/Fr.100; Metallo: AR,
4,05g, (MR140402), Diam.: 18,61mm, mBB, (RRR). Ex
Helios 4 n. 384; ex Coll. Lynn; ex CNG 51 n. 1290;
ex Gadoury 2012 n. 199; ex Artemide aste 49, n.
217. Disponibilità: Disponibile 4.900,00€.
- https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=90&l=79646
Auctions 97-98. Lotto 118 Denarius, Roma
112-August 1... Descrizione The Roman Empire. Diva
Marciana, sister of Trajan. Denarius, Roma
112-August 117, AR 3.40g. Description: DIVA
AVGVSTA – MARCIANA Draped bust r., hair
elaborately dressed, above which crescent-shaped
diadem. Rev. CONSECRATIO Eagle with spread wings
perched l. on sceptre, head r. References: C 4.
BMC Trajan 651 RIC 743 CBN Trajan 758. Woytek 7193
Condition: Very rare and in exceptional condition
for the issue, among the finest specimens known. A
wonderful portrait and a magnificent old cabinet
tone, good extremely fine Provenance: Leu sale 7,
1973, 368. M&M sale 66, 1984, 603. Tradart
sale 4, 1991, 294. Numismatica Genevensis sale 6,
2010, 162. Tradart sale December 2014, 305 Note:
Historians disagree about the date of Marciana’s
death: some place it in 105, the year that she and
Plotina jointly took the title of Augusta, while
others suggest a date as late as 112 or 114. One
of the two later dates seems more likely. This
posthumous coinage does represent a novelty in
Roman numismatics, for the word consecratio first
appears here, and thereafter was employed
frequently for posthumous coinages. Following
Marciana’s death, her daughter Matidia was raised
to the rank of Augusta, and coinage was struck in
her name in addition to that already being struck
in the name of Trajan’s wife, Plotina. Risultato
20'000 CHF. Prezzo iniziale 20'000 CHF. Stima
25'000 CHF.
- sixbid
Starting price: 8.000 GBP. Estimate: 10.000 GBP.
Result: 22.000 GBP. Lot 788. Diva Marciana AR
Denarius. Rome, AD 113-114. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA,
diademed and draped bust of Marciana right,
wearing pearl necklace, with hair elaborately
arranged and bound into tight bun high at back of
head / CONSECRATIO, eagle with wings displayed,
standing to left with head right. RIC 743; Woytek
719; BMC 650; RSC 4. 3.40g, 20mm, 8h. Near Mint
State. Boldly struck and exceptionally sharply
detailed. Pleasant light grey cabinet tone. A
stunning coin and certainly one of the very finest
known examples of the type. From an old European
Collection. A public expression of his devotion to
his family, Trajan’s relatives were portrayed on
his coinage to an extent not seen since the
Julio-Claudian emperors. Both his natural father
Marcus Ulpius Traianus and adoptive father Nerva
are commemorated on his coinage, and Trajan also
extended the honour to his living relatives,
namely his sister Marciana, his wife Plotina and
his niece Matidia. Trajan and his elder sister
Marciana maintained a particularly close
relationship, and the deep affection that existed
between them is evident in Trajan’s decision to
award her the title of Augusta, the first sister
of an emperor ever to receive the title. Marciana
thus became part of the imperial iconography, and
her statue was placed together with those of
Trajan and his wife Plotina over the Arches of
Trajan in Ancona. Marciana would often travel with
her brother and assist him in decision making.
Throughout the Roman Empire, she was honoured with
monuments and inscriptions, and Trajan founded two
towns named after her: Colonia Marciana Ulpia
Traiana Thamugadi founded in 100 and Marcianopolis
founded in 106. If there had been any doubt of the
esteem in which Trajan held his beloved sister, it
must surely have been dispelled when upon her
death, sometime between 113 and 114, she was
deified by the Senate at Trajan’s behest. It is on
this posthumous coinage of Marciana that the
reverse legend CONSECRATIO is first utilised, and
it was thereafter frequently employed for
posthumous coinages of deified augusti and
augustae. Following Marciana’s death, her daughter
Matidia was raised to the rank of Augusta in her
stead, and coinage was struck in her name also.
Through Matidia, Marciana would be the
great-great-great grandmother of the future
emperor Marcus Aurelius.
- https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces253725.html
Obverse: Bust of Marciana, draped, right; hair
coiled on top of head behind cresent-shaped
diadem. Lettering: DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA.
Translation: Diva Augusta Marciana. The divine and
venerable [Ulpia] Marciana. Reverse: Eagle walking
left on sceptre, head right, wings open.
Lettering: CONSECRATIO. Mint Rome (ancient), Italy
Roman Empire (Rome) Trajan (98-117) Standard
circulation Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC –
AD 215). Silver 3.2g 19.5mm (irregular). Coin
alignment ↑↓ Yes. RIC II# 743 (denarius).
- coinhome
Roman Imperial Issuer: MARCIANA Date Ruled: Died
112 AD Metal: Silver Denomination: Denarius Struck
/ Cast: struck Date Struck: AD under Trajan, circa
September 112 Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.12g Die
Axis: 7h Obverse Legend: DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA
Obverse Description: Diademed and draped bust
right Reverse Legend: CONSE-CRATIO Reverse
Description: Eagle with spread wings, standing
front, leaning left, on sceptre, head right Mint:
Rome Primary Reference: RIC 743 (Trajan)
Reference2: RSC 004 Reference3: BMCRE 650
(Trajan).
- https://www.biddr.com/auctions/numismatiknaumann/browse?a=438&l=438238
Auction 74 Lotto 321 DIVA MARCIANA (Died 112/4).
Denarius. Rome. Struck under Trajan. Obv: DIVA
AV... Denarius. Rome. Struck under Trajan. Obv:
DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA. Draped bust right, wearing
stephane. Rev: CONSECRATIO. Eagle, with head right
and wings spread, standing left on sceptre. RIC
743; T&M 19. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 100
(29 May 2017), lot 476. Very rare. Condition:
Extremely fine, some porosity. Weight: 3.36g.
Diameter: 19mm. Risultato 2'600 EUR. 3 offerte.
Prezzo iniziale 2'000 EUR. Stima 2'500 EUR.
- https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=4483&lot=1755
Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 15 27-28 Feb 2021.
Lot 1755 Starting Price: 200 CHF. Price realized:
1300 CHF. Diva Marciana, died 112/4. Denarius
(Silver, 19mm, 3.29g, 7h), Rome. DIVA AVGVSTA
MARCIANA Diademed and draped bust of Diva Marciana
to right. Rev. CONSECRATIO Eagle with spread wings
standing left on scepter, head turned to right.
BMC 651. Cohen 4. RIC 743. Woytek 719. Nicely
toned. Minor scratches, otherwise, nearly very
fine.
- https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=4371&lot=1084
Lot 1084 Estimate: 3000 USD. Price realized: 7000
USD Diva Marciana. Died AD 112/4. AR Denarius
(19mm, 3.34g, 6h). Consecration issue. Rome mint.
Struck under Trajan, AD 114. DIVA AVGVSTA
MARCIANA, draped bust right, hair coiled in back
and piled up behind stephane / CONSECRATIO, eagle
standing facing, head right, on bar (or scepter),
with wings displayed. RIC II 743 (Trajan); Woytek
719; Strack 198; RSC 4; BMCRE 651 (Trajan); BN
757-8 (Trajan). Lustrous surfaces, with a few
minor areas of light porosity. EF. Portrait of
wonderful style. Trajan's sister Marciana and her
daughter Matidia moved into the Imperial palace
upon his ascension and formed part of a distaff
cabal of women relations, led by his wife Plotina,
who are widely thought to have influenced the
domestic policies of his government. Upon her
death on 29 August AD 112, Marciana was formally
deified and honored with this attractive denarius
issue, depicting an eagle bearing a scepter to the
heavens.
- coins.ha.com
Sister Of Trajan. Diva Marciana, sister of Trajan
(died AD 112). AR denarius (19mm, 3.12g, 6h).
Rome, AD 112-114. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, draped
bust of Marciana right, wearing large double
stephane, the hair plaited and coiled at back of
head / C[ONSEC]RATIO, eagle with spread wings
flying upwards, body left but head turned right,
holding scepter in both talons, the top of which
passes across the bottom of the eagle's right
wing. RIC (Trajan) 743 (R3). BMCRE (Trajan) 651.
RSC 4. Very rare! Nicely toned. A pleasing Very
Fine. Marciana, Trajan's sister, and her daughter
Matidia lived in the Imperial palace during his
reign and were also honored on Trajan's coinage.
Together with his wife Plotina, this circle of
females is credited by some with influencing
Trajan's reforms of taxation and the establishment
of a welfare scheme to help the poor (Alimentia).
Upon her death on 29 August AD 112, Marciana was
formally deified and honored with this attractive
denarius issue, depicting an eagle bearing a
scepter (signifying Marciana's soul?) to the
heavens. The scepter in this reverse type should
thus not be regarded as a horizontal groundline
dictating the orientation of the type, but should
be viewed diagonally upwards at an angle of about
45 degrees.
- cngcoins
Marciana. Augusta, circa AD 105-112/4. AR Denarius
(19mm, 3.23g, 8h). Rome mint. Struck under Trajan,
AD 114. CNG Feature Auction 114. Lot: 843.
Estimated: $ 20 000. Roman Imperial, 360 Photo,
Silver. Sold For $ 19000. Marciana. Augusta, circa
AD 105-112/4. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.23 g, 8h). Rome
mint. Struck under Trajan, AD 114. DIVA AVGVSTA
MARCIANA, draped bust right, wearing stephane /
CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing, head right, on
bar (or scepter), with wings displayed. RIC II 743
(Trajan); Woytek 719; Strack 198; RSC 4; BMCRE 651
(Trajan); BN 757-8 (Trajan). Superb EF, lovely
deep iridescent toning over lustrous surfaces. Of
the finest style. Ex Gadoury (3 December 2016),
lot 51. Trajan's sister Marciana and her daughter
Matidia moved into the Imperial palace upon his
ascension and formed part of a distaff cabal of
women relations, led by his wife Plotina, who are
widely thought to have influenced the domestic
policies of his government. Upon her death on 29
August AD 112, Marciana was formally deified and
honored with this attractive denarius issue,
depicting an eagle bearing a scepter to the
heavens.
Veniamo alle conclusioni. Allo scopo di valutare
l'autenticità della moneta di figura ho realizzato la
tabella di confronto allegata
nella quale ho riportato, oltre alle immagini delle
monete reperite nel web, le caratteristiche fisiche e
i prezzi d'asta, ove disponibili. Dal confronto emerge
che, mentre le caratteristiche fisiche della moneta
sono accettabili, i caratteri delle leggende appaiono
più spessi rispetto a quelli delle monete di confronto
e nel rovescio i tratti lineari, come il profilo delle
ali, le zampe, le penne, lo scettro hanno tratti più
larghi, ciò che fa intendere che la moneta in esame
sia stata realizzata attraverso il calco di una moneta
originale. Non ho riprodotto le immagini del taglio
della moneta perché non desumo da esse elementi degni
di nota.
Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
---------------------------------------------------
Note:
(1) Deanario.
Secondo BMC, il denaro di Traiano pesava 3,21g
(media calcolata su 464 esemplari). Raccolgo in
tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei denari
della tipologia di figura presenti nei link di cui sopra:
Link |
Peso(g) |
Diametro |
Asse di conio |
1 |
3,11 |
18-19 |
- |
2 |
3,28 |
19 |
7 |
3 |
4,05 |
18,61 |
- |
4 |
3,40 |
- |
- |
5 |
3,40 |
20 |
8 |
6 |
3,2 |
19,5 |
6 |
7 |
3,12 |
18 |
7 |
8 |
3,36 |
19 |
- |
9 |
3,29 |
19 |
7 |
10 |
3,34 |
19 |
6 |
11 |
3,12 |
19 |
6 |
12 |
3,23 |
19 |
8 |
Avuto riguardo di quanto sopra, le caratteristiche
fisiche della moneta in esame (3,90g, 18mm, 12h)
rientrano nei margini di variabilità dei denari
d'epoca reperiti nel web.
(2) DIVA AVGVSTA - MARCIANA. In
segno di devozione pubblica verso la propria
famiglia, Traiano volle che i suoi parenti fossero
ricordati nelle monete in una misura che non si
ricordava dai tempi degli imperatori giulio-claudi.
Sia il padre naturale Marcus Ulpius Traianus che il
padre adottivo Nerva furono commemorati nelle
monete, e Traiano estese l'onore anche ai suoi
parenti in vita, vale a dire la sorella Marciana, la
moglie Plotina e la nipote Matidia. Traiano e sua
sorella maggiore Marciana mantennero un rapporto
particolarmente stretto e il profondo affetto che
esisteva tra loro è evidente nella decisione di
Traiano di assegnarle il titolo di Augusta, prima
sorella di un imperatore a ricevere il titolo.
Marciana entrò così a far parte dell'iconografia
imperiale e la sua statua fu collocata, insieme a
quelle di Traiano e di sua moglie Plotina, negli
Archi di Traiano ad Ancona. Marciana viaggiava
spesso con suo fratello e lo assisteva nel processo
decisionale. In tutto l'Impero Romano, fu onorata di
monumenti e iscrizioni e Traiano fondò due città a
lei intitolate: Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana (oggi
Thamugadi
o Timgad in Algeria, fondata nel 100) e
Marcianopolis (oggi Devnya
in Bulgaria, fondata nel 106). Traiano riponeva
nell'amata sorella tanta stima che alla sua morte,
avvenuta tra il 113 e il 114, ne propose e ottenne
dal Senato l'apoteosi. In seguito alla morte di
Marciana, sua figlia Matidia fu elevata al rango di
Augusta, e anche a suo nome furono coniate monete.
(3) CONSECRATIO.
La Consecratio (o apoteosi o
divinizzazione) era il processo attraverso cui il
Senato romano riconosceva all'imperatore, alla
consorte o ad un parente meritevole, lo status
divino al pari degli altri dei. Il cristianesimo ha
trasformato poi la consecratio nella santificazione
dei pii meritevoli a conclusione di un articolato
processo di canonizzazione. Le serie delle
CONSECRATIO comprendevano i classici tipi postumi,
l'aquila, la pira funeraria o l'altare. Nella moneta
in esame la consecratio è associata all'aquila in
procinto di spiccare il volo per trasportare in
cielo l'anima della defunta divinizzata (diva).
Nella cerimonia della consecratio si usava
addirittura far levare in volo un'aquila dal sommo
di una pira funebre. È proprio con la monetazione
postuma di Marciana che venne introdotta per la
prima volta la leggenda del rovescio CONSECRATIO
nelle emissioni postume di augusti e auguste
deificati. |