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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,524 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
 Trajan. CE 98-117. Rome mint, CE 101-102. AR denarius, 18 mm, 3.7 gm. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC. Laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R. Trajan's column surmounted by statue of Trajan, holding patera and scepter; two eagles at base. RIC II 35
One of the most desirable issues for Trajan collectors, this denarius depicts the triumphal column of Trajan, an incredible and still-standing tribute to the emperor's successful Dacian campaigns of CE 101-2 and 105-6.  Image from WikipediaAbout the column
- Completed in CE 113
- Funded by the spoils of the Dacian wars
- 35 meters tall (125 feet), including the base
- The shaft is composed of 20 drums of Carrera marble, each ~3.7 meters in diameter (11 feet)
- A spiral staircase within leads to a viewing platform
- The bas relief friezes spiral 23 times up the column and has 155 scenes with more than 2600 carved figures. Unwound, the frieze measures 190 meters (625 feet) in length.
- The story of both Dacian wars are shown in the friezes. The first war starts at the bottom, a beautiful carving of Victory separates the two stories.
- Trajan's and Plotina's ashes were interred in the column's base (since removed)
- The topping statue of Trajan, lost in the middle ages, was replaced by Pope Sixtus V in 1587. St. Peter's statue remains atop the column to this day.
How did they lift the 32-ton marble drums that high?Probably by something similar to this lifting tower:  Image from WikipediaWhere's Trajan?Trajan appears 59 times in the friezes. He is distinctive and the carving realistic enough to pick him out, although with 2600 figures to sort through it's a bit like finding Waldo.  Image from Wikipedia, embellished :)A fun and fanciful tour book story"The column's survival was largely thanks to the intervention of Pope Gregory the Great (reigned 590-604). He was so moved by a relief showing Trajan helping a woman whose son had been killed that he begged God to release the emperor's soul from heck. God duly appeared to the pope to say that Trajan had been rescued, but asked him not to pray for the souls of any more pagans.
According to legend, when Trajan's ashes were exhumed his skull and tongue were not only intact, but his tongue told of his release from heck.
The land around the column was then declared sacred and the column itself was spared." -- ItalyGuides.itFurther readingDartmouth.edu, detailed studies of the column overview of the Dacian warsTrajan's Column iPad app... Post your Trajan's column coins :)
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Wish I had one. It's amazing that the column is still standing in such excellent condition. Now that you have the coin you need to visit the column.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
Speechless I am .........
"I am without speech !"
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
12/30/2014 11:55 am
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
I really really wish I had one of those  As the old saying goes "felicior Augusto, melior Traiano"-may he be luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan" Happy New Year guys and girls ! |
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Yay jigsaw!
Saw this post in another place, excellent TIF.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Very nice. I had a few opportunities to get the Antonine Column issues, but decided against it. You used to be able to climb the columns for a fee (well, way way back). This led to some damage, especially to Marcus Aurelius' Column.  Interesting story, when they repaired Marcus Aurelius' column, which had also remained standing, they replaced the smashed up reliefs at its base with an inscription calling it Antoninus' column - they were mistaken, Antoninus' being long lost (though not nearly as interesting as it was made from undecorated red granite). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
The coin and post are both worthy of yet another monument.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Very nice coin, I only have a poor example of Victory inscribing DACICA on a shield.
Trajan certainly was 'milking' his victory against the Dacians as much as he could.
The statue is impressive, hope everyone into Roman coins gets the opportunity to see it for him-/her-self.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Love the coin, TIF. I've never been there. Ski - "Wish I had one" (coin) Well, I don't have one either, but I do own "TRAJAN'S COLUMN" (or at least a 30 cm Marble and Bronze replica).  |
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
Wow I want one of those TC |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Nice. Where did you find that?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2480 Posts |
Thanks for the coin kudos, everyone! I'm very happy with this purchase and it's a great way to close out the coin year. I'd love to see the column in person.
@Topcat: fabulous! That's a very nice miniature.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Thanks, TIF - I think your coin is better.
Ski - My Grandmother passed away in 1972 and I received it and four porcelain camels from her (meagre) estate. I was 'burglarized' (U.S. term) in 1979 and I lost (amongst other things) the camels (commercial value $2) but I was left 'Trajan', thankfully.
I was (and am) VERY happy.
Edited by Topcat7
12/30/2014 8:07 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
It very nice and looks like it has some age to it. They don't make them like that any more.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,524 |
Posted 12/30/2014 11:53 am
