A Specialized Collection of Corona Radiata – Radiate Portraits

Triton XXI, Lot: 263. Estimate $300. Sold for $325. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (35mm, 22.34 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (AD 107/108). [AVT TPAI]AN C[ЄB ΓЄPM ∆AKIK], radiate and draped bust right / Trajan standing facing, head left, wearing military attire, holding a spear with his left hand, his right hand extended; to left, Athena standing facing, head right, holding a spear with her left hand and shield on the ground with her right; to right, Nike standing left, crowning Trajan with a wreath held in her right hand, holding a palm frond with her left; L I[A] (date) in exergue. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC III 4226.1/3 (this coin); Emmett 483.11 (R5 – citing the specimen in the Steger collection = the ANS coin); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 252 (this coin); Staffieri, “La ‘corona radiata’ sui ritratti dei bronzi imperiali alessandrini con catalogo regionata” (NACQT Vol. XLII, Lugano, 2013), pp. 121-144, 4a (this coin– illustrated). Good Fine, dark green to black patina with lighter patches of green. Extremely rare. The authors of RPC cite three coins: one in the collection of the American Numismatic Society (1944.100.56254); a specimen in the Demetrio collection in Athens; and this coin.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Paul-Francis Jacquier FPL 20 (Autumn 1997), no. 429.

From RPC III, p. 575: “This is the earliest radiate bust for Trajan on the 33mm denomination; another example occurs in year 12 (emperor in quadriga = DS 6913 = 4294.4), but not otherwise until year 15 (although it occurs on a smaller denomination in year 14). Athena could be interpreted as Roma.”