CXLI.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. NER. TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG. GER. DAC. PARTHICO P. M. TR. P. COS. VI. P. P. (Imperatori Cæsari Nerva Trajano, Optimo, Augusto, Germanico, Dacico, Parthico, Pontifici Maximo, Tribunitia potestate, Consuli sextùm, Patri Patriæ.) A fine laureated head of the Emperor, with a robe on his shoulders. It is in a secondary state of conservation, and unpatinated; and was presented to me, in 1824, by Chev. Albert de la Marmora, a gentleman distinguished by his researches in Sardinia.

Reverse. REGNA ADSIGNATA, on the exergum S. C. The Emperor seated between two Prætorian officers on a suggestum, at the foot of which, three figures are standing, the foremost of whom, is receiving a gift from Trajan's hands. This noble and significant medal is as remarkable for the simplicity as the force of its legend; and it relates to the assignment of dominions to the kings of Parthia, Armenia, and Mesopotamia. Adsignata was the ancient orthography for assignata, and appears thus on inscriptions.

CXLII.

Obverse. IMP. CAES. NER. TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG. GER. DAC. PARTHICO. P. M. TR. P. COS. VI. P. P. (Imperatori Cæsari Nerve Trajano, Optimo, Augusto, Germanico, Dacico, Parthico, Pontifici Maximo, Tribunitia potestate, Consuli sextum, Patri Patriæ.) A very expressive laurelled portrait of Trajan, with the sagum on the shoulders. This medal is thickly coated with a deep olive-green patina, and is in singular preservation it was procured from M. Nyssen, the Austrian Consul, at Tunis, in 1822. Reverse. REX PARTHIS DATVS, on the exergum S. C. The Emperor, seated on a curule chair, with a military præfect standing by him, is in the act of crowning a king, whom Parthiain the national costume-is kneeling to receive. This medal was minted A. D. 116, and is illustrated by Dio,-for he says that Trajan, when he came to Ctesiphon, assembled the Romans and Parthians, and formally placed the diadem upon Parthamaspates. The Prince thus chosen, continued faithful to Rome, for which he was despised by his countrymen, and could maintain but little authority over them. Trajan was extremely elated with his Eastern conquests but in the event, they proved an useless expenditure of toil, blood, and treasure, for after his death the new provinces threw off the yoke, and recovered their former condition.

PLOTINA.

Pompeia Plotina was one of the most illustrious of all the Roman Empresses, though history is silent as to her family, country, and the date of her birth. She was married to Trajan a considerable time before his adoption by Nerva, and died without issue, A. D. 129. Hadrian, who was indebted to her for the Empire, caused her obsequies to be performed with the utmost pomp and magnificence. He bewailed her with many tears, appeared for nine days in deep mourning, composed verses in her praise, caused her name to be consecrated, and dedicated a noble mausoleum to her memory, near the ruins which still exist, at Nismes.

Plotina was highly esteemed by the people of Rome for the modesty and piety with which she filled her exalted station,-manifesting all the good qualities of Livia, without her pride and haughtiness. She accompanied Trajan when he assumed the Purple, and turning to the people when she mounted the steps of the palace, uttered these memorable words,-"I hope to come out the same as I go in."

Indeed, during the whole time of her husband's reign, her conduct was so irreproachable, as to deprive of their venom the malicious shafts aimed at her, on account of her patronising Hadrian. Julian acknowledged that the advice of this judicious princess was always such as tended to the public good; and most authors agree that she contributed largely to the glory of Trajan, and the splendour of his reign. Several ancient inscriptions testify the extraordinary kindness with which she treated Marciana, her sister-in-law; and she is highly complimented on that account by Pliny. The senate offered both of these ladies the glorious though often misused title of Augusta, which they declined so long as Trajan refused that of Pater Patriæ. Plotina went into the East, and afterwards conveyed the sacred urn, which contained the deceased Emperor's ashes, from Cilicia to Rome. Pliny, who eulogizes the affability, sanctity, frugality, modesty, affectionate disposition, and unsullied reputation of Plotina, exclaims,"Tibi uxor in decus, et gloriam cedit; quid enim illâ sanctius, quid antiquius? Nonne, si Pontifici Maximo eligenda sit conjunx, aut hanc, aut similem, (ubi autem similis ?) elegerit?"

Some of the imputations against Plotina originate in an expression of Dio Cassius, but the intimation is no proof of her having transgressed the bounds of virtue. She appears to have considered Hadrian as a proper husband for her grand-niece, and a worthy successor to the Emperor, whose prejudice against him was so marked, that she interposed her kind offices to prevent it from ruining his interests. Spartian, who however is not a very competent voucher, carries this kindness to an extraordinary pitch. He tells us that she took care not to press upon Trajan the naming of his heir, lest his choice should prove prejudicial to her favourite; but that, as soon as the Emperor expired, Plotina, who kept it very secret, sent in all haste for a trusty dependant, and having placed him in Trajan's bed, she caused a number of senators and officers of distinction to come into the chamber, in whose hearing the pretended sick man declared, with a faint and dying voice, that he adopted Hadrian for his successor.

The medals of Plotina are of a high degree of rarity in gold and silver, and still more so in brass,-for there are of the large size those of one type only known, and of the smaller none whatever. Both Colonial and Greek medals of second and third brass, were struck to her honour, but they are difficult to procure. Of the gold series, the one conveying the best compliment is, perhaps, that with an altar, inscribed Ara Pudicitiæ.

CXLIII.

Obverse. PLOTINA AVG. IMP. TRAIANI. (Plotina Augusta, Imperatoris Trajani.) The head of Plotina, ornamented with a frontal diadem, and having the hair neatly plaited and hanging in a loop behind. The features of the face are regular, and have a grave and

serious expression; the neck is long, and the shoulders covered with a robe. This medal was procured from J. C. Ross, Esq. at Malta, in 1821; it is of yellow-brass, and, like most of those of this Empress which I have seen, considerably rubbed. I was, therefore, very desirous of superseding it by the perfect specimen sold at Mr. Trattle's sale; but from my directions having been misunderstood, it was "knocked down" to the Duc de Blacas, for £32. Reverse. FIDES AVGVST. (Fides Augusta.) A robed female standing in a stately attitude, between a large S. and C. with ears of wheat in her right hand, and a salver filled with fruits and flowers supported on her left. This probably celebrates the constancy of Plotina to Trajan, for Fides presided over the observance of promises, and was attired in white vestments, as indicative of the candour and sincerity of Truth; thus Horace

Te Spes, et albo rara Fides colit
Velata panno.

MARCIANA.

This prudent Princess was the sister of Trajan, the mother of Matidia, and grandmother to Julia Sabina, who married Hadrian. The date of her birth is unknown, as is also the name of her husband, albeit he was the father of such august personages. She appears to have been a widow at the time of her brother's adoption, and, after forming a principal ornament of his court, died about A. D. 114, when her memory was consecrated by deification,-a date and fact identified by the evidence of medals and marbles.

Marciana has been highly praised by historians, and, apparently with great reason. So strict a friendship subsisted between her and the Empress, that no coolness was ever known to disturb or diminish their unanimity; and the conformity of inclinations and sentiments between these two ladies, contributed materially to the happiness enjoyed alike by the court and city. The names of both Plotina and Marciana are inscribed on the triumphal arch at Ancona; and the uninterrupted harmony which subsisted between them is highly extolled by Pliny.—“ Nothing is so apt to breed quarrels as emulation," says that orator, "especially in women, where it is oft begot by nearness in alliance, fomented by equality, inflamed by envy, till it end at last in the most inveterate spite and hatred. From hence it ought to be esteemed the greater wonder, that two ladies in the same palace, of the same quality, should have no feuds, nor contention. They bear with each other, they never dispute the right of precedence, and while both passionately love you best, they think themselves unconcerned, which of them you shall please best to love." The medals of Marciana are of great rarity, in each of the metals, and there are none known in brass of the second and third sizes. That of gold, or silver, bearing Soror Imp. Trajani, with a reverse, Matidia and two children, is highly prized

in cabinets.

CXLIV.

Obverse. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA. A grave and dignified portrait of Marciana, with a superb frontal diadem, and the hair tastefully tressed round the head, in a mode different from that of Plotina. This medal was presented to me, with several others, in the spring of 1832, by my friend, Mr. W. Hamilton, so well known for his diplomatic and literary merits. That gentleman, aware of the deficiences of my cabinet, most handsomely invited me to examine his collection, and take from it whatever I pleased,—a license of which, knowing the sincerity of the offer, I unhesitatingly availed myself.

Reverse. CONSECRATIO. On the exergum S. C. An ornamented thensa drawn by two mules,— one of the emblems of a female apotheosis. See No. XVII. It was probably struck about the 19th year of Trajan's reign.

CXLV.

Obverse. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA. The head of Marciana, attired as above. This medal is of unpatinated yellow metal, and has been roughly handled; it was purchased at Mr. Henderson's sale, in 1830.

Reverse. CONSECRATIO. On the exergum S. C. An eagle standing, or rather cowering, with expanded wings. This noble bird, the Jovis Armiger of Virgil, and Minister Fulminis of Horace, is a symbol of divinity,-but it is more usually applied to the apotheosis of an Emperor than to that of an Empress, the latter being expressed by a peacock, as sacred to Juno. CXLVI.

Obverse. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA. A portrait of this excellent Princess, with ornaments and head-dress as in No. CXLIV. The medal is of pale yellow-brass, and in secondary conservation; it was purchased at Mr. Henderson's sale, in 1830.

Reverse. EX SENATVS CONSVLTO. On the exergum S. C. A curious car, on which is placed a seated statue of Marciana, with the veil, patera, and lance of divinity. It is drawn by two elephants, with a mahaut, or driver on each; they are guided apparently by a wand, and not by the hawkush or goad, resembling a boat-hook, now used in India, to direct the animal by either catching hold of his ear, or pricking him. See No. VIII.

MATIDIA.

Matidia was the daughter of Marciana, and though she was the favourite niece of one emperor, and mother-in-law to another, we are alike ignorant of the times of her birth, marriage, and widowhood, as well as of the names, rank, and offices of her father and her husband. From this uncertainty, it may be inferred that they were both dead when Trajan arrived at Rome after his adoption, or history would have been more communicative. She had two daughters, of whom Sabina became empress, and Matidia junior, the youngest, died in early life, but in what year we are uncertain: nor was the latter distinguished from her mother till Welser, by the aid of an inscription, disproved their identity. Matidia is supposed to have lived till the reign of Antoninus Pius; but a bronze medallion in the Vienna collection, inscribed Divæ Matidiæ Socrui, would prove, if genuine, that she died in Hadrian's time; its authenticity is however strongly suspected. And, as if all the events in the life of this princess were to be involved in equal obscurity, though medals clearly shew us that she bore the title of Augusta, we know not when it was assumed.

Matidia has generally been praised by the historians who have mentioned her. She was in the first class of those illustrious dames who adorned the court of Trajan, and redeemed the character of the palace. She accompanied her uncle into the East; and Spartian expressly tells us that she assisted Plotina in bearing his ashes to Rome. The friendship of the Empress for Marciana has been mentioned, and she was equally kind to Matidia and her two daughters; for she was so gracious to them, and espoused their interests with such cordial zeal, as to prevent their feeling the superiority of her rank. Their living together in so much harmony afforded Trajan infinite pleasure; he saw, with great satisfaction, this amiable understanding among ladies so nearly allied to him, and so dear to his heart; and thus, having no domestic anxieties, he was the more at leisure to attend to the public welfare. The excellent effects of such virtue and policy were very widely felt, and went far towards reinstating the empire in its first splendour, by rendering odious the cruelty, vice, and flagrant abominations of most of the preceding reigns. Indeed, so great an influence has a court upon the public mind, that learned men, it has been observed, abounded in the reign of Augustus; vicious debauchees under Tiberius; grave men and good soldiers under Trajan; and infamous ruffians under Commodus.

As with Plotina and Marciana, so the Roman mintage in honour of Matidia is restricted to gold, silver, and large-brass medals, and of the latter there is only one type known, viz. that which is about to be described. I am not aware of any Colonial coin of this Princess, but there is a third-class Greek Imperial one, which is extremely rare.

CXLVII.

Obverse. MATIDIA AVG. DIVAE MARCIANAE F. (Matidia Augusta, Dive Marciana filia.) The head of Matidia, with an amiable and sensible countenance, indicating an age of about 40 years. The hair is curiously and tastefully dressed in a style similar to that of Marciana, but the frontal diadem is one of still greater elegance. The neck is long and wellturned, the shoulders are covered with neat drapery, and the whole design marks Matidia as a fine woman. This exceedingly rare medal is entirely covered with a dark brownish-green patina, and is in splendid condition; it formed No. 2929 of Mr. M. Trattle's sale, in 1832, where it was sold for £ 32. 10s. and displaced a tolerable one which had been some years in my cabinet.

Reverse. PIETAS AVGVST. (Pietas Augusta.) On the exergum S. C. A stately female standing between two children; she is attired in the stola, and kindly extends her hands to the heads of her young companions. Piety is sometimes thus represented to denote charity and benevolence, and therefore many numismatists have considered this as a mere symbol of the moral Virtue. Havercamp, who has engraven a monstrous distortion of the elegant female before us, makes the left-hand figure naked; but both on the medal under consideration, and on the one formerly in my possession, all the group is in female robes: and as the principal wears a diadem instead of the usual veil, I presume the type may denote Matidia and her two daughters.