Just won this beauty and don't have it in hand but am having a hard time differentiating the RIC. Trajan (98-117), Sestertius, Rome 103-111. AE (g 24,85; mm 32 gr). IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, Laureate bust r., slight drapery on l. shoulder, Rv. OPTIMO PRINCIPI ARAB ADQVISIT, Arabia standing facing, head l., holding branch and bundle of cinnamon sticks(?); camel at her feet to l., S - C. RIC 466 (?) T-rage is not so lean but plenty mean and very green. I am itching to see this patina in hand. The coin was recently unearthed in the Normandy department of France. Here he is just after being dug up... Please share your Trajans, recently unearthed coins, opinions and anything else that you think SMASHES!
A very appealing coin, and I love that color! Here's my Trajan camel coin: Trajan AR Drachm, 115-Feb. 116 AD [before granting of Parthia title], Arabia Bostra (or Rome*) Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan right, with paludamentum, seen from rear, AYTOKP KAIC NЄP TPAIANѠ APICTѠ CƐB ΓƐPM ΔAK [equivalent of IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC] / Rev. Bactrian (two-humped) camel, walking left, ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATO ς [equivalent of TR P COS VI (sixth consulship)]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 4076 (2015); RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?volume_id=3&number=4076, SNG ANS VI 1158; Sydenham 205 [E. Sydenham, The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia (1933)]. 19 mm., 3.10 g. Purchased from Kenneth W. Dorney. (Coin is double die match to Roma Numismatics Auction, May 21, 2013, Lot 767 [https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=474&lot=767]; image of that coin is reproduced as Plate 14, No. 7 in Woytek & Butcher article cited in note below.) * See Bernhard E. Woytek and Kevin Butcher, The Camel Drachms of Trajan in Context: Old Problems and a New Overstrike, The Numismatic Chronicle Vol. 175 (2015), pp. 117-136 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43859784).
Congratulations, Ryro. A big, green giant of combat may be good to have handy. Trajan AD 98-117. Cappadocia. Caesarea. AR Drachm Obverse: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ; laureate head of Trajan, r., drapery on l. shoulder Reverse: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Ϛ; club, handle at bottom Reference: S 216, Weiser 65, Paris Hoard 91–93, Metcalf Conspectus 69a, Ganschow 137a Specimens: 5 in RPC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3,07g Conservation: VF I think the club here fits in well with your theme. I got this one this fall, and am quite happy with it too. Not sure if it’s recently unearthed, but it may well be.
I have an as and a denarius of Trajan featuring Arabia with her camel and precious cinnamon. THE SPICE MUST FLOW!
Something like this? https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ro...2114_ad_ric_116_good_fine/651236/Default.aspx I does look like RIC#610?
Nice pickup @Ryro! I definitely need to add one of his issues with an Arabia/camel reverse type. Here’s my big green Trajan bronze. I always enjoy his incredibly long obverse legends. Trajan, AE Dupondius, circa 105-111, (28mm., 13.22g.) Radiate head right/ Rev. Trophy of arms, two shields at base; S-C across fields. RIC 586.
Another showstopper from Donna That camel on your coin literally and metaphorically traveled through a couple millennia and is still trucking Plus it reminds me of the hump day camel It still makes me laugh.
TRAIANUS Roman Empire Arabia Petraea, Bostra. Trajan. A.D. 98-117. AR Drachm (18.57 mm, 2.92 g, 8 h). Struck A.D. 114-116. AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANω APICTω CЄB ΓЄPM ΔAK, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ΔHMAPX EΞ UPATO ς, Camel walking left. SNG ANS 1158; SNG von Aulock 6408; Sydenham, Caesarea 205. VF. Ex: Harlan J. Berk. Ex: Agora Roman Empire Trajan Egypt AE Dichalkon Laureate hd L Rhinoceros walking L LI-Z yr 17 CE 113-114 12.9mm 1.25g Emmet 719 var. rhino right
When I think of Trajan and a club, I must think of my as showing the club of Hercules resting on a lion skin.
Nice looking Trajan camel, Ryro. A while back I got a camel sestertius - it is in such terrible shape I was not able to fully attribute it, but while researching it, I was surprised to see how many varieties there were. Using OCRE, I came up with four possibilities - hope that helps with yours (see below): Trajan Æ Sestertius (103-111/112-114 A.D.) Rome Mint [IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS V (VI) PP], laureate bust r., slight drapery on left shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S-C, ARAB [ADQ (ADQVIS)] in ex,Arabia standing, camel left. (21.42 grams / 31 x 28 mm) Attribution Notes: Four possibilities, Arabia type with slightly draped bust: RIC 465: COS V ARAB ADQ RIC 466: COS V ARAB ADQVIS RIC 610: COS VI ARAB ADQ RIC 614: COS VI ARAB ADQVIS
I wonder if @curtislclay might offer his guidance. I've had one coin with a new obverse and fairly wonderful reverse from this seller. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I have wondered if the Greeks put reverses like that on the coins to communicate that «this is what you guys are all about».
I never thought of it that way. To me it is more like a peaceful person walking alone at night being less at ease than one accompanied by his friend the bodybuilder. Hercules made a good companion.
Aside from the Hercules coins of Commodus, are you able to recall any Roman issues with this reverse type?
Nice looking coin, @Ryro, with a real nice patina! A denarius with a similar reverse: Trajan, AD 98-117. Roman AR denarius, 3.35 g, 18.3 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 103-111. Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust, right, with drapery on left shoulder. Rev: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Arabia, draped, standing left, holding branch in right hand over camel walking left before her and a bundle of canes (?) in left hand. Refs: RIC 142; BMCRE 297-299; Cohen 89; Sear --; ERIC II 400.
Trajan Ar Denarius 110 AD Obv Bust right laureate Aegis on far shoulder. Rv Arabia standing left camel standing before her. RIC 142v Woytec 285 c 3.41 grms 18 mm Photo by W Hansen When I bought this coin the variety with the aegis was unknown. Later when I got Woytek's book on Trajan I found that it was known by 12 examples. Though there are probably more. Please Note Articles on Ancient Medieval and modern coins can be found here https://edmontoncoinclub.com/the-planchet/the-planchet-archived/
Nice green on that sestertius @Ryro! Here is a coin that the seller had as Trajan but is actually Claudius. Phrygia, Synnada. Claudius AE18 Obv: ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΑ ϹΥΝΝΑΔΙϹ; laureate head of Claudius, r. Rev: ƐΠΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΑΝΔΡΑΓΑΘΟΥ (ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙϹΑΡΟϹ); Zeus seated, l., with Nike and sceptre. Magistrate:Klaudios Andragathos
The Arabia with camel type is special amongst the many "someone standing there"-reverses. Mine unfortunately has an ugly scratch. I nonetheless like it: Trajan, Roman Empire, denarius, 103–111 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [IMP TRAI]ANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P; bust of Trajan, laureate, r. Rev: CO[S V P P S P Q ]R OPTIMO PRINC, Arabia standing l., holding branch in r. hand and a bundle of cinnamon sticks in l., camel at feet to l. 17mm, 3.07g. Ref: RIC II Trajan 142 (denarius).
