Diva Marciana, died 112/4. Aureus (Gold, 20 mm, 7.34 g, 6 h), Rome, September 112-117. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA Draped bust of Diva Marciana to right, wearing stephane. Rev. CONSECRATIO Eagle, wings spread, standing left on scepter, head turned back to right. BMC 647. Calicó 1152a. Cohen 3. RIC 743. Woytek 717. Very rare. A well centered and attractive example of this difficult issue. Good very fine.


Ulpia Marciana was Trajan's beloved elder sister. Born in August in an uncertain year during the reign of Claudius, she was married to the Roman senator Gaius Salonius Matidius Patruinus, to whom she delivered a daughter, Salonina Matidia. When Patruinus died in 78, Marciana and Matidia went to live with Trajan and his wife Plotina. Trajan adored his elder sister, who therefore served as his advisor, travelling in the imperial entourage on several occasions. Sometime between 100 and 105, the emperor bestowed the title of Augusta upon Marciana - the first time an emperor's sister would carry this epithet - and he even had two cities named after her, namely Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi (modern-day Timgad in Algeria) and Marcianopolis in Moesia Inferior, respectively. When she eventually died, perhaps in 112, she was deified and for the first time in Roman history, the term CONSECRATIO appeared on her coins.