Coin of Trajan
Coin (Sestertius)
105 AD (made)
105 AD (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The figures on this coin represent the Danube (in the form of a river-god), overcoming the province of Dacia (in the form of a supine woman), a land to the north of the Danube in modern Romania. Trajan conquered Dacia in 101-106 CE: his first successful conquest of land beyond the existing borders of the Roman Empire. The coin was made in 105 CE, when he was on the brink of this conquest.
Ancient Roman coins were popular with Renaissance collectors. By owning them and copying aspects of them in their own commissions, patrons could acquire some of the glory of the classical world.
Ancient Roman coins were popular with Renaissance collectors. By owning them and copying aspects of them in their own commissions, patrons could acquire some of the glory of the classical world.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Coin of Trajan |
| Materials and techniques | Struck brass |
| Brief description | Coin (sestertius), brass, of Trajan, head of Trajan / Tiber overcoming Dacia, Roman, 105 AD |
| Physical description | Brass coin. On the obverse is a head of Trajan with an inscription around the border. On the reverse is shown a male figure (Danuvius; river Danube), partly naked, with a scarf billowing around his head and holding a reed, rushing upon a female figure (Dacia), half-reclining on the ground. Also with an inscription around the border. |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr George Salting |
| Object history | The figures on this coin represent the Danube (in the form of a river-god), overcoming the province of Dacia (in the form of a supine woman), a land to the north of the Danube in modern Romania. Trajan conquered Dacia in 101-106 CE: his first successful conquest of land beyond the existing borders of the Roman Empire. The coin was made in 105 CE, when he was on the brink of this conquest. Trajan was the only Roman emperor successfully to cross the Danube and conquer the land to the north. The Danube represented Trajan's expansions and imperial achievements. |
| Historical context | This is an example of the kind of Roman coin collected by Renaissance scholars. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | The figures on this coin represent the Danube (in the form of a river-god), overcoming the province of Dacia (in the form of a supine woman), a land to the north of the Danube in modern Romania. Trajan conquered Dacia in 101-106 CE: his first successful conquest of land beyond the existing borders of the Roman Empire. The coin was made in 105 CE, when he was on the brink of this conquest. Ancient Roman coins were popular with Renaissance collectors. By owning them and copying aspects of them in their own commissions, patrons could acquire some of the glory of the classical world. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.708-1910 |
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| Record created | March 24, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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