Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1445. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TRAJAN. 98-117 AD. AV Aureus (7.27 g, 7h). Struck 115 AD. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind / DIVVS • PATER TRAIANVS, draped bust of Trajan's father right. RIC II 764; Strack 154; Calicó 1136; BMCRE 506 note; Cohen 3. Good VF. Very rare. ($10,000)

From 112-115 AD, a number of issues for Trajan's relatives were struck, particularly for his wife, Plotina, sister, Marciana, and niece, Matidia. In conjunction with these issues, Trajan also struck reverse types commemorating the deification of his father, Marcus Ulpius Traianus. Ulpius Traianus was the first senatorial member of his family, and rose to military distinction under Nero and Vespasian. He commanded the tenth legion during the Jewish War and laid siege to Joppa. In honor of his accomplishments, Vespasian awarded him with the office of consul in 70 AD. Ulpius subsequently served as governor of Syria (73-77 AD) and proconsul of Asia (79-80 AD). His time in these offices were also particularly productive; he reorganized the eastern frontier defences, constructed two major roads, and successfully defended against a Parthian incursion in 75/6 AD (for which he earned the ornameta triumphalia). He lived long enough to see his son attain the purple, and died peacefully, circa 100 AD. In addition to these issues of Trajan, which are the sole historical evidence of his deification, his name appears on various provincial issues in Syria during his tenure there as governor.