I didn’t need this Trajan, (even though i didn't have a Dacia), but for some reason i was mesmerised and just had to bid....and....I won and here he is now posing for a photo. Does this ever happen to you? Almost as if it calls to you through the ages...... Trajan Decius AR Ant 249-251 AD. 22mm, 3.35g. Rev: DACIA, Dacia standing left holding staff with asses head at top. RIC IV 12b
A historically important issue, @JulesUK ! I often make impulse purchases such as this. One of my favorite Trajan Decius coins was this provincial from Tarsus. I saw it and said, "Oh, look at Artemis with that dog and that deer!"
Yes, that’s the word! Impulse......Talking of history, I’m reading and absorbing Wayne Sayles “Ancient Coin Collecting Vol. IV, roman provincials”. Absoloutely fascinating read and really brings the coins of these types and their unique history to life. This is where I am going to focus more of my collecting efforts on, though impulse may lead me astray sometimes.
Admittedly, quite often You have an interesting coin: you may enjoy this thread from @Roman Collector regarding the common attribution or mis-attribution: This is NOT a donkey head! Trajan Decius (AD 249-251) AR Antoninianus (21mm, 4.03 gm) Rome AD 249-250 Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right, seen from behind Rev: DACIA, Dacia, wearing robe reaching feet, standing left, draco battle standard in right hand. Ref: RIC 12b
JulesUK, The portrait on your coin is excellent despite the well worn reverse die. Trajan Decius was successful in driving out the Carpi barbarian hoard from Dacia, so this coin has historical importance. I can see why you were hooked into buying it . I've been sucked into making impulse purchases all my life; it's not a good habit although sometimes it pays-off . The coin pictured below was my last impulse purchase. I needed that coin like I needed a trip to Disneyland . I guess I was sucked into buying it because it was pictured in McAlee's book .
A great coin Jules. Once I started visiting cointalk I realized many people collect more than one coin from an emperor. This was a costly and slippery slope. John
@JulesUK......Nice coin!....I'm not really into shiny so the toning on your coin is realy appealing!.... Must be my old eyes but at first I thought the reverse might have been the standard RIC13..??..It looks very vertical and the top of the standard is really close to the face of Dacia?...Probably wrong..Just a thought....
Definitely RIC 12b. The angle of my photo doesn’t quite show it but there is a flattened area where the Draco/asses head of the staff should be. I compared against this site also: http://numismatics.org/ocre/results...facet:"Trajan+Decius"+AND+deity_facet:"Dacia"
Ok....Like I said bad eyes and you have the coin in hand....Just noticed your from the UK....I grew up in North Devon...Where are you from?
No worries, I have so much to learn still that anything and everything is good by me. Originally Sussex, now in Lincolnshire, but my family is Scottish, and my wife is a Scouser. No jokes please haha
I know I qualify as 'no fun' but it is just plain wrong to refer to Trajan Decius simply as Trajan. Trajan was emperor a century and a half before Trajan Decius and one of the most significant of all Roman emperors. Decius was an interesting guy but one who would struggle to make the top twenty when it comes to historical or numismatic interest. For the record: Impulse buying is the best way to go IMHO. You need to buy coins when they appear on the market and are priced as you can afford. Going to a coin show or reading an auction catalog with one and only one possible purchase in mind will cause you to miss out on things you will have a lot of trouble finding if and when you ever decide to look for one. This Decius is a very nice coin in many ways. I am glad it found a way to make you unable to resist. There are several variations on the Dacia type. This one is Dacia Felix. Below is the one I bought as an upgrade due to the reverse detail. The one it replaced had a better portrait IMO but weaker reverse. t went unsold in a JAZ and AMCC sale. It seems people are picky about Draco heads. If your reading of Sayles IV makes you impulsive in a Decius direction, he issued quite a few attractive provincials. Antioch AR tetradrachm Most popular may be the Viminacium Colonial with Latin legends. The city goddess is protected by the bull and lion symbols of the legions stationed there. Be careful, Provincials can be very addictive.
