Trajan's Transitional Visage

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by John Anthony, Apr 13, 2022.

  1. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Nerva was unpopular with the army, which is a fatal condition if you're a Roman emperor, so he adopted the very popular general Trajan as his son and successor, thus initiating the era of "Adoptive Emperors." When Nerva died unexpectedly in January of 98, Trajan was governor of Germania Superior. Rather than hasten to Rome, he made a lengthy survey of the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Perhaps he was unsure of his position in Rome and sought to strengthen the allegiance of the military.

    Whatever the reason, the earliest issues of Trajan, struck in 98 through the early part of 99, present us with busts which are neither Nerva nor Trajan. At the moment, I have three coins in my trays that illustrate the point very nicely. The first is Nerva of course, and the second is a dupondius struck in 98-99. It's clear that the celators were instructed to retain the facial features of Nerva, but to broaden the width of the profile. Thus, the earliest busts of Trajan exhibit the aquiline nose, downturned lips, and fierce scowl of his adoptive father...

    Nerva-Trajan.jpg

    Was this simply because Trajan had not yet given the artists at the Rome mint a proper "sitting," or was it a political gesture reassuring the Roman people that Trajan was Nerva's choice as heir? The third coin presents us with the broad skull, pronounced jawline, straight nose, and benevolent expression that is so familiar to those of us that have collected his later issues.

    Do you have any hybrid Nerva/Trajan busts from AD 98-99?
     
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  3. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Heck, could be a recutting off existing dies. That happened all the time, where sculptors would recarve portrait statues into a new face.
     
  4. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    No doubt there was some recutting of dies.
     
  5. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    This is an early issue from 98 AD
    Trajanus Abundantia2.jpg
     
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  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Two:
    rc1630b00122lg.jpg rc1640b01199lg.jpg
     
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  7. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Trajan Ae Sestertius 98 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv. Pax seated left RIC 401 Woytek 58a 25.73 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen trajans34.jpg If memory serves me I do recall that some sources indicate that Trajan was not in Rome when Nerva died, nor was he in Rome during the period of time that Nerva had declared him to be his successor. However I do find it difficult to believe that an image of someone who is a eminent military commander as well as coming from a distinguished family would not have an image kicking about somewhere in Rome. However there might be another reason for these hybrid portraits. There might be a need to emphasize that Trajan is in fact Nerva's son. Nerva is after all a duly elected legitimate Emperor. Trajan is his duly anointed heir. However at this critical moment Trajan is not an duly elected Emperor and won't be until he gets back to Rome. Thus these odd images may be an effort to enhance Trajan's claim to the throne.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2022
  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Very interesting topic John.
     
  9. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    I always enjoy these "transitional" coins. I have two early Trajans from this time period: a denarius and a dupondius. The portrait on my denarius has a strong resemblance to the later issues of Nerva. The portrait on the dupondius has some features of Nerva, but is definitely more Trajan-like.

    97583C73-BF08-41C6-A77A-6840C1666425.jpeg
    Trajan, AR Denarius. Rome, 98-99 A.D., (17mm, 3.22g), RIC 30
    Obv: IMP NERVA CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM P M., Laureate head right./ Rev: TR P COS II PP., Pax seated left on throne, holding branch and caduceus.

    7C33A216-6A8E-48A8-A806-D9C530DAEDE1.jpeg
    Trajan, 98-117 AE Dupondius circa 98-99, 27.50 mm., 15.66 g.
    Radiate head r./ Rev. Abundantia, draped and diademed, seated l. on throne with two crossed cornucopiae as arms and holding long sceptre in r. hand; in exergue, SC. RIC 382.

    There are many different theories for how these came about, but I think it's pretty clear that unlike other transitional coins, this was not a situation where they simply didn't know what the new guy looked like yet. The portraits clearly have a lot of Trajan's features (i.e.- his awful haircut and more reasonable nose).

    I've always subscribed to the theory, which I believe Doug(?) may have come up with, that many of these dies were originally intended to be coins of Nerva but were unfinished at the time of his death. Instead of throwing away their work when Nerva died, the dies were just modified to add more of Trajan's features. It certainly would explain why there are features of both emperors, though the resemblance is generally stronger in Trajan's early silver coins than his early bronze coins, which I can't explain. Fun topic to speculate about.
     
  10. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    I think that is a very interesting idea Terence, I like it. I've always felt that this was done more for practical reasons, but I definitely like the idea that it was done to help bolster his legitimacy by connecting him to Nerva. And even if it wasn't done for that purpose, it certainly may have had a postive effect for Trajan politically.
     
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  11. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    There was a thread on this by @Shea19 a while back:

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ea...th-a-nerva-like-portrait.343440/#post-7450540

    Here's mine, with note from @Parthicus Maximus:

    [​IMG]

    This is pretty cruddy overall and made me think Nerva when I first got it. But it's not:

    [​IMG]
    Trajan Æ Dupondius
    (98-99 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    [IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M] radiate head right with Nerva-like features / [TR P COS II P P] S C, Abundantia seated l. on crossed cornucopiae, holding sceptre.
    RIC 382-387 (legends worn).
    (12.68 grams / 26 mm)
    eBay April 2021 Lot @ $1.24
    Notes:
    "I think there is another reason for the Nerva-like portraits. Trajan was named Caesar in 97 but was not in Rome at the time (He was in Germania). So there was no possibility to make a bust of the new Caesar. When Nerva died at the end of January 98, there was no official bust of Trajan. The Mint of Rome, however, immediately started minting new coins. But they had no example bust..."
    Coin Talk Parthicus Maximus July 2019

    P.S. Here is one from the British Museum with the Nerva nose.

    collection: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-11858
    [​IMG]
     
  12. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..i LOVE those transitionals...but have nay and the only i ever bought broke...
     
  13. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    It's a very interesting topic to be sure. As per my example below - it takes awhile before perfection is achieved by the artist:

    upload_2022-4-14_22-7-53.png

    ----------

    On a serious note - I do love this coin of Trajan.. struck near the end of his reign, yet he looks particularly young to me - which I find enjoyable.

    upload_2022-4-14_22-13-21.png
     
  14. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..that portrait lQQks like a Dr. off General Hospital...LD
     
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  15. Orange Julius

    Orange Julius Well-Known Member

    Great topic. I have this rough sestertius of Trajan from late 98 ad.
    TrajanRIC390.JPG
    Trajan
    February - Autumn 98, Rome.
    IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M. Portrait head with laurel wreath to the right.
    Rs: TR POT - COS II. Pax with olive branch and scepter to the left, in section S C. RIC 390; Cohen -; Woytek 27a².
    Very good early portrait
     
  16. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    I agree! That's a beauty... and rough sestertii certainly have appeal!

    upload_2022-4-15_0-31-4.png
     
  17. singig

    singig Well-Known Member

    I have three coins from this short period , on the first one Trajan has a obvious resemblance with Nerva

    Trajan AR Denarius, Rome. AD 98-99. RIC 9
    IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head right. /
    P M TR P COS II P P, Vesta veiled, seated left, holding patera and torch
    trajan 134.jpg


    Trajan AE Sestertius. 98-99 AD. RIC 390 or RIC 401
    IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M, laureate head right /
    TR POT COS II (P P), SC in ex, Pax seated left holding branch and sceptre.
    trajan 133.jpg

    Trajan , AR denarius, Rome, AD 98-99. RIC 12
    IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head right. /
    PONT MAX TR POT COS II, Concordia seated left by altar, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
    trajan 135.jpg
     
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