TRAJAN 113 A.D. AR Denarius, Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate bust of Trajan, facing right, slight drapery. Rev: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI (Optimo Principi = the best of rulers, an honorary title bestowed on Trajan by the Senate in 101 A.D.) Female figure (Via Traiana) reclining left, resting her arm on a rock and holding a wheel and a branch, with VIA TRAIANA in the exergue. Struck in 113 A.D., to commemorate the completion of the Via Traiana; a road from Beneventum to Brundisium, in 109 A.D. The 'Triumphal Arch' (the beginning of the 'road') at Beneventum still stands, today. Trajan bore the cost of this road himself. (Courtesy of Wildwinds.)
Trajan was a very good Emperor, and he also was from Spain , he deserved the title Optimus Principi. Lovely coin TC, I only have one denarius of his and it's worn and un photographed.
I love your new coin and I love the type, however, what is happening on the reverse? It appears that the silver is flaking. I do not see any kind of bronze core to make me think it is a fouree, but the flaking is curious.
@> Bing. I must admit to being curious about that myself, however, I know so little about these things, I have no answer. The coin definitely appears to be silver on both levels. Did they 'dip' (wash) silver coins for any reason, I wonder?
I must admit that the reverse did draw my attention (I did notice that slight "flaw" right away ... ummm, but hopefully it's merely an explainable coin mint thingy?) ... regardless, this is a fairly sweet opportunity to post one of my cool Trajan examples (not quite the same type as your sweet OP-example, but it's in the same kinda spirit) => Trajan Tet … Phoenicia, Tyre Topcat => I sure hope that your new addition proves to be a total winner
I only have one Trajan to share, a Mars issue minted sometime shortly after the conquest of Dacia. It has some luster that I've never been able to perfectly photograph, so please excuse my amateur photography.
@Sallent - look up "axial lighting" for lustre. I will have a go at this once I have learned to use the camera properly
@Topcat7 , that is a really interesting rev pic! Via Traiana and Wheel... never seen that! nice. Just have the basic Trajan denarii... I really like his Standards and the Horseback style... Soldier over vanquished foe Standards Horseback Circulation wear, scratches, dirt... ah, these have been through the battles of barter!
Topcat => I don't think there is a dragon on my coin (I hope there is, but you must be seeing images in the clouds?) => here are the obverse & reverse descriptions: Obverse: Laureate head right; below, club left and eagle standing right with wings folded Reverse: Tyche seated right, foot set on river-god swimming to right below
So many interesting variations posted here that I'm itching to go after one or the other...but I think I've already 'obligated' myself for the rest of this month. I'll throw in one of my most recent purchases, a sestertius of Trajan:
more sweet roman silver for TC! that reverse kind of makes me worry, it looks like it's going to flake off and bring large chunks of the surface with it...and that the martial underneath would crumble out. it it more stable than it look to me TC?
I don't know Chris. What you see is what I can see. It is definately silver underneath, and therefore not a /fourree/, but more than that I do not know.
Oh, now I see what you saw ... but unfortunately, it's not a dragon ... I have included an example which may help put the reverse image into focus ... rather than a dragon, that is merely a dude (Orontes, the River-God) swimming in the river Oh, and here are a couple of links for a bit more info ... http://www.theoi.com/Potamos/PotamosOrontes.html http://greekmythology.wikia.com/wiki/Orontes Cheers, Topcat
