CNG 87, Lot: 997. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diva Marciana. Died AD 112. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.32 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 112-117. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Decorated carpentum drawn left by two mules. RIC II 746 (Trajan); Woytek 723; RSC 10. VF, minor pitting in obverse fields, some light scratches on reverse.

Trajan was the first Roman emperor to hail from the provinces (he was born in Spain), and was quick to establish his lineage. Members of his family appearing on his coins include his father Trajan Pater, general and consul, his wife Plotina, his sister Marciana and her daughter Matidia. Trajan and Plotina were childless, so the marriage of Matidia’s daughter Sabina to Hadrian, a fellow Spaniard, was arranged to secure the succession. Hadrian was also formally adopted by Trajan, as Trajan was by Nerva, thus establishing the Antonine principle of succession by marriage and adoption.