A Rare Diva Marciana
Diva Marciana. Died AD 112/4. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.28 g, 6h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, September AD 112-117. DIVA • AVGVSTA MARCIANA, draped bust right, wearing stephane upright on head, in front of which her hair is built up in three tiers, the hair is massed at top and back of head in a coil / CONSECRATIO •, Carpentum drawn left by two mules, the top is ornamented with fleurettes, the front with figures, the side with figures and two wreaths. RIC II 746 (Trajan); Woytek 723
2/723
1 (for obv./rev. dies); Strack 200; RSC 10; BMCRE 654; BN 759. Toned. Good VF. Rare.
Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 757.
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, the rarest of all her coin types, which is missing in most museum and major private collections.
