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Roman Empire. Plotina. Aureus 117-118, AV 7.42g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:64,000.00 CHF Estimated At:80,000.00 CHF
Roman Empire. Plotina. Aureus 117-118, AV 7.42g.
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The Roman Empire. Plotina, wife of Trajan. Aureus 117-118, AV 7.42g. PLOTIN–AE AVG Draped bust of Plotina r., wearing double metal stephane. Rev. MATIDI–AE AVG Diademed and draped bust of Matidia r. C 1. BMC Hadrian 53 (these dies). RIC Hadrian 34. Calicó 1150 (these dies). Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Two extraordinary portraits perfectly struck in high relief. Extremely fine. Ex NAC 18, 2000, 516 and NAC 41, 2007, 75 sales The augustae Plotina and Matidia both had coinages struck during their lifetimes by Trajan, who was, respectively, their husband and uncle. However, most researchers agree that this remarkable aureus was struck in the inaugural year of the emperor Hadrian, who assumed the throne upon the death of Trajan. Hadrian issued a grand coinage for the newly deified Trajan and for Trajan’s widow and niece, both of whom had always been strong supporters of Hadrian, and who were still alive during the first years of his principate. It was to Hadrian’s advantage to honour them, for it showed dynastic continuity and thus legitimised his claim to the throne. The obverse of this aureus bears a bust of Trajan’s widow Plotina, the alleged architect of Hadrian’s succession. The reverse portrays Trajan’s niece Matidia, whom we are told he treated like a daughter. In addition to being a supporter of Hadrian, Matidia was also his mother-in-law, and she thus provided further proof of his dynastic legitimacy. Coins like this helped to counter rumours that Hadrian’s adoption was not official, and that Plotina had delayed the announcement of her husbands death so she could forge a letter of adoption that named Hadrian as his successor. Even the most flattering versions suggest that Plotina went to great effort to convince Trajan, on his deathbed, to adopt Hadrian. The Historia Augusta and Cassius Dio suggest two other men, Trajan’s brother-in-law L. Julius Servianus and his confidant L. Neratius Priscus, were preferred heirs; and it was also rumoured that he intended to name no candidate at all, and to leave it to the senate to appoint his successor.