Trajan 103-111 AD. Rome mint.O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right, draped shoulder R: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, Felicitas standing left holding cauduceus and cornucopia Nothing to write home about, but it is a new acquisition.
New is new, I like it. Mine: Trajan (98 - 117 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. R: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Spes walking left, flower in right, raising hem of skirt. Rome 3.5g 20mm SRCV II 3127, RIC II 127, RSC II 84
Of course it is. You now own an authentic silver coin of one of the best emperors in ancient Roman history. How bloody cool is that! We get desensitized to how utterly cool collecting ancient coins really can be! I love it you got a new coin you enjoy sir.
I'm not a big fan of Trajan coins due to so many having ordinary reverses but there are several different portrait types that can be collected. Worn coins are generally not terribly pricey but nice ones can be.
Doug: I love the portrait on the first coin you presented. Do you know where it was minted? The portrait is different from most I've seen, but especially different from Rome minted coins.
I believe that is one of the earlier Rome mint styles. There is an earlier one where the portrait is more like Nerva.
I believe its an early portrait with the combo nerva/trajan look, similar to what Severus Alexander/Maximinus i had in Maximinus early portraits.
Yes, I have read it was very common for the earliest coins of the new emperor, before the new bust circulated, to look like the old emperor just a different name. I definitely see this with Doug's example.
I agree, a nice portrait and coin Iamtiberius. To further illustrate the many bust types for Trajan denarii, here is one I found a few years ago. I think yours has a nicer portrait.
Trajan Denarius. 103-111 AD. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate head right, draped far shoulder / COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Victory standing left, naked to hips, holding wreath & palm This is one of my finer examples. I'm in a hotel room, so it's hard to get the light right to take these photos.
