I picked up this Trajan from JA a few weeks ago. I was waiting to see if the winner of the bonus #2 was going to post a thread on that Trajan so I could share it there. At work when we enter a certain area all things have to be accounted for. Things like phones or tablets are a no no and what tools I enter with I have to exit with other wise all kinds of mahem follows. When I got back on grid I saw I was outbid and the auction was over. JA sent a PM offering this runner up to the bonus #2 which I gladly took him up on. Rather than go into a history lesson on Trajan I thought I'd provide this link to an interesting write up from ancient history encyclopedia. I subscribe to and enjoy some of the articles there. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ancient.eu/amp/1-678/ A decent runner up. Trajan AR Drachm 18mm, 3g, 6h, Bostra 114-117AD AYOKP KAIΣ NEP TRAIAN ΣEBΓEPM ΔAK laureate bust right with slight drapery ΔHMAPXEΞ\ZYΠAT arabia standing left holding branch and bundle of cinnomon sticks, camel at feet left Metcalf 16 As always feel free to share what you will.
In my mind, I did not consider the OP coin a "runner up" to the one in the auction. The one in the auction was in a very high grade with perfect centering to be sure, but this one has a "find patina" as they say - dark silver with some crusty sand. It looks like it has weathered the climate of Arabia and some good old-fashioned commerce. Two very different coins of the same type - apples and oranges.
I didn't intend that in a bad way. I was only trying to identify it as a different coin that was offered at the time. It is a great coin. I actually prefer honest wear on my ancients. It adds to the history, just imagine the hands that coin tranfered throughout its life. I'm not sure how you got the photos you did, I tried for hours only to settle with yours which are way better than any of my attempts.
They were listed as "bonus" coins. I think out of the two of them, the OP coin is the better. I have used JA's photo for now, but the coin is much better in hand. I still want @Ken Dorney 's camel though
that's a very nice coin! i have two of trajan, one like yours and the other a victory reverse. these are two of my favs in my collection
I agree @Pishpash Sometimes I hesitate to long, I love a good auction but am lacking in patience. After closing that day I kept going back & forth between the #2 offered in auction & the photo sent which is the OP photo. I believe everything happens for a reason & every reason has its consenquence good or bad. This is one of the good ones. In hand is much better but the reverse is way better than I expected it to be.
I am no fan auctions. But you both did very well in my opinion. I would be proud to own either one...or both!
Btw, this type was issued in 5 Imperial denominations (aureus, denarius, sestertius, dupondius, and as) and two Provinicial (drachm and tridrachm). So if you had the funds and patience, you could assemble a very interesting denomination set. Here's an aureus that hammered at 42 grand in 2008. Click on the pic for the auction, which has a nice little write-up.
@John Anthony Those find patinas on silver look cool as heck. Man, if you can find me a sweet 2nd or 3rd century Imperial silver with find patina, let me know. @Smojo that's not a runner up, that's a sweet coin. The patina with gold, black, and reddish brown hues is superb. Don't ever clean that coin. Leave that patina as is, because it makes that coin far much more interesting.
I'm just throwing this out there. Theres a simular type in the current CNG Eauction ending March 1st. It costs a bit more than JA offered. Yes "runner up" was a poor choice of words. I again was only attempting to identify it as a different coin than that was offered in auction. In hand its a great coin I'm happy with it. I don't think I'd be as happy if I had won the coin offered in auction. It fits right in with my collection. The patina stands out quite well next to my others.
The earliest drachms of Bostra were struck over Nabataean drachms, and that is what you have in your first coin. For instance, on the obverse, the Nabataean letters shin, nun, and taw can be read in the upper left corner, which did not get overstruck by the Roman dies... Nabataean is read right-to-left, like Hebrew, and the word in this case is Shanat, or year. The regnal year would have come after. Compare it to a Nabataean drachm of Rabbel II from my collection where you can clearly see the same word on the obverse... Nabataean Kingdom, Rabbel II (70 - 106 AD) AR Sela, 16mm, 3.45g; Petra mint, RY 22 (91/92 CE). Obv.: Laureate and draped bust of Rabbel II right; around, inscription, 22 רבאל מלכא מלך - נבטו שׂנת (Rabbel the king, king of the Nabataeans, Year 22). Rev.: Veiled and draped bust of Gamilat right; around, inscription, גמלתּ אחתה מלכת נבטו (Gamilat his sister, queen of the Nabataeans). Reference: Meshorer 154 The reverse of your coin also has a few Nabataean letters - I can make out at least one nun. If you ever wish to part with that coin I implore you to contact me first.
The only coin cleaning I do is to cure the dreaded BD. Which I have it whipped here. No more signs of it remaining. Its a coin to be proud of. By the end of the year it'll be in my top 10.
Cool coins. Trajan is one of my favorite historical Emperors, so you can't go wrong with his coins @Smojo Here is a couple of mine: RI Trajan CE 98-117 AR drachm Struck CE 114-116 Arabia Petraea Bostra - Camel SNG ANS 1158 RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 Riding Horse
