Two Superb Portraits

Triton XXII, Lot: 1070. Estimate $30000. Sold for $27500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Marciana. Augusta, circa AD 105-112/4. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.23 g, 8h). Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, AD 114. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, draped bust right, wearing stephane / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing, head right, on bar (or scepter), with wings displayed. RIC II 743 (Trajan); Strack 198; RSC 4; BMCRE 651 (Trajan); BN 757-8 (Trajan). Superb EF, lovely iridescent toning. Great metal. Of the finest style.

Ex Gadoury (3 December 2016), lot 51.

Trajan's sister Marciana and her daughter Matidia moved into the Imperial palace upon his ascension and formed part of a distaff cabal of women relations, led by his wife Plotina, who are widely thought to have influenced the domestic policies of his government. Upon her death on 29 August AD 112, Marciana was formally deified and honored with this attractive denarius issue, depicting an eagle bearing a scepter to the heavens.