{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O122479"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O122479/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3115/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3115/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY3115","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AY3114","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KY5122","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O122479/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O122479","accessionNumber":"A.680-1910","objectType":"Coin","titles":[{"title":"Aureus of Trajan","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The aureus was the standard gold coin of the Roman empire from the 1st century BC until the 4th century AD, and was  issued throughout that period.\r\n\r\nThe use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins. Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus) was one the greatest of the Roman emperors. He was regarded as a just ruler and waged successful wars against the Germans and the Parthians, and was rewarded with the title Optimus, 'the Best'.\r\n\r\nAncient Roman coins were very popular with Renaissance collectors. By owning them, and copying aspects of them in their own commissions, patrons could acquire some of the glory of the classical world.","physicalDescription":"Gold coin.  On the obverse is a head of Trajan with an inscription around the border.  On the reverse is shown three standards, surmounted by (l-r) a vexillum (a banner carried by Roman troops), an eagle, and a hand.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold","categories":[{"text":"Coins & Medals","id":"THES48974"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[{"text":"Roman","id":"AAT20533"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AY3115","2006AY3114","2018KY5122"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"64 (VA)","id":"THES49735"},"free":"","case":"SS3","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coin","id":""}],[{"text":"aureus","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Rome","id":"x29106"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"112-114 AD","earliest":"0112-01-01","latest":"0114-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Mr George Salting","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"2.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"7.18","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'IMP. TRAIANO. AVG. DAC. P. M. TR. P. COS. VI. P. P.'\r\n\r\n(IMP[ERATORI] TRAIANO AUG[USTO] DAC[ICO] P[ONTIFICI] M[AXIMO] TR[IBUNICIAE] P[OTESTATIS] CO[NSULO] VI [SEXTO] P[ATER] P[ATRIAE])","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"To the Emperor Trajan Augustus Dacicus [Conqueror of the Dacians], High Priest, Holder of Tribunician Power, in his sixth year as Consul, Father of the Country.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"obverse"},{"content":"Reverse: S. P. Q. R. OPTIMO PRINCIPI\r\n\r\n(S[ENATUS] P[OPULUS] Q[UE] R[OMANUS] OPTIMO PRINCIPI)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"The Roman Senate and people to the best leader.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The aureus was the standard gold coin of the Roman empire from the 1st century BC until the 4th century AD, and was  issued throughout that period.The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire.The tradition is still commonly seen today. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284)  images were made of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people. Trajan was one the greatest of the Roman emperors. He waged successful wars against the Germans and the Parthians, and was rewarded with the title Optimus, 'the Best'. His memory was greatly honoured, and he was given the unusual right of burial within the city limits of Rome. His ashes were placed in the base of his great column, held in an urn made of gold. Theologians, such as Thomas Aquinas, discussed Trajan as an example of a virtuous pagan. In the Divine Comedy, Dante, following this legend, sees the spirit of Trajan in the Heaven of Jupiter with other historical and mythological persons noted for their justice. Dio Cassius reported that \"he was devoted to boys and to wine\".","briefDescription":"Coin, aureus of Trajan, gold, head of Trajan, Roman, ca. 112-114 AD","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cohen, Henry.  <u>Description Historique des Monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain communément appellées, médailles impériales, par Henry Cohen</u>.  Paris, 1859-68.  No. 576."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mattingly, Harold, and Sydenham, Edward Allen.  <u>The Roman Imperial Coinage.  Vol. 2: Vespasian to Hadrian</u>.  London: Spink, 1926.  No. 294"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mattingly, Harold.  <u>Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum.  Vol. 3: Nerva to Hadrian</u>.  London: British Museum, 1936.  No. 456"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Christol, Michel, and Lassalle, Christiane.  <u>Monnaies d'or de l'empire Romain aux musées de Nimes</u>.  Nimes 1988.  No. 52."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture)</u>. London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 112"},{"reference":{"text":"Ajmar-Wollheim, Marta and Flora Dennis, <i>At Home in Renaissance Italy</i>, London: V&A Publishing, 2006.","id":"AUTH347593"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Trajan","id":"N442"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"eagle","id":"x39158"},{"text":"hand","id":"x31539"},{"text":"banner","id":"AAT195679"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"THREE COINS of Trajan\r\n98-117\r\n\r\nAncient Roman coins were very popular with Renaissance collectors. By owning them, and copying aspects of them in their own commissions, patrons could acquire some of the glory of the classical world.\r\nRoman\r\n\r\nGold (left) and brass (centre and right)\r\n\r\nMuseum nos. A.680, 707, 708-1910","date":{"text":"2008","earliest":"2008-01-01","latest":"2008-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.680-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"680","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM5722","2019LR6057","2019LW2416","2020MP0284"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-03","recordCreationDate":"2006-03-31","availableToBook":false}}