DIVVS PATER TRAIAN

Triton XXII, Lot: 1067. Estimate $10000. Sold for $8500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Trajan, with Trajan Pater. AD 98-117. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.15 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 112-113. IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DΛC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Trajan right / DIVVS • PATER • TRAIAN, bareheaded and draped bust of Trajan Pater right. RIC II 762 var. (not cuirassed); Beckmann, Early, Group IVb, 3 (dies b2/P6); Woytek 407f; Strack 213; Calicó 1137a (same dies); BMCRE 505 var. (same); BN –; Biaggi –. VF, lightly toned, minor scratch on reverse. Very rare type and a very rare variety, Beckmann cites ten specimens in his die study.

From the Fendi Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 100 (7 October 2015), lot 1858.

Trajan’s forum featured a temple to the emperor’s deified father, situated behind Trajan’s monumental column. Upon Trajan’s death, his body was interred in the base of the column, and the adjacent temple was rededicated to the deceased ruler.