Lot 3602
Trajan, 98-117 AD. AE Sestertius (25.0 g). Minted ca. AD 112-117. Laureate head of Trajan right, slight drapery on left shoulder. Reverse: S P Q R OPTI - MO PRINCIPI SC. Abundantia (or Annona) standing facing slightly right, holding grain-ears and cornucopiae, her head left looking at togate child at her side who holds up a parchment roll; ALIM ITAL in exergue. RIC 604; Banti 8; Cohen 10-11. Thin die-crack at upper edge, and minor obverse flaw. Forest green patina with earthen red highlights. Excellent details. Choice Very Fine.
Alimenta Italiae: Trajan's great benevolence to Italy, which had suffered much in the civil wars, is well attested by contemporary coinage, monuments, tablets and writing. The emperor greatly aided the people of Italy with food, provisions in corn and other resources, and was a great benefactor to her children, as alluded to here on this Sestertius. In a panegyric written in AD 100, Pliny the Younger tells us: "there were very nearly 5,000 free-born children whom the liberality of our prince (say he), sought out and adopted. A reserve in case of war, and an ornament in peaceful times, they are nourished at the public cost, and learn to love their country, not only as their country only, but also as their nursing mother. From the ranks of these will our camps, our tribes be filled…".
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized $1,840 |
