Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 141. Estimate CHF12000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012.  Sold For CHF13500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diva Marciana. Died AD 112/4. Aureus (Gold, 7.32 g 7). DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA Diademed and draped bust of Marciana to right, wearing a necklace of pearls and with her hair elaborately arranged and ornamented with pearls. Rev. CONSECRATIO Eagle standing on a bar and facing with open wings, his head turned to right. BMC 647. Calicó 1152 (this coin). Cohen 3. Hill 570. Jameson 96 (this coin). RIC 743. Very rare. Very fine.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 33, 6 April 2006, 480, from the collections of E. Biaggi, R. Jameson and J. R. McClean (”Astronomer”), Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 13 June 1906, 50.

Ulpia Marciana (48 -c. 112/114) was Trajan’s elder sister, and he retained a great affection and respect for her throughout his life. After her husband died in 79, she and her daughter Matidia moved in with Trajan and his wife Plotina; in 105 he had her named Augusta, and she was deified after her death (which Hill dates to 112 in his ordering of the coinage).