Thought I'd share another recent purchase: Roman Empire. AR denarius (19mm, 2.89g). Trajan (98-117 AD). Obverse: Laureate bust right, legend IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS V PP. Reverse: Figure of Dacia weeping, seated on shield, curved Dacian sword below, legend SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. RIC 218. Purchased from Vcoins dealer Romae Aeternae Numismatics. Trajan was one of the most militarily proficient Roman emperors, and this coin commemorates what is probably his greatest conquest, the kingdom of Dacia. Dacia was a large territory north of the Danube, roughly covering what is now Romania (plus portions of adjacent countries), and its conquest was a major undertaking for Trajan. As a memorial, he ordered the creation of Trajan's Column in Rome, which still stands today, carved with scenes of major battles in the Dacian war. This reverse type, with a female personification of the vanquished people weeping at her loss, reminds me of the Judaea Capta types of the Flavians. I would think that such portrayals would tend to create sympathy for the defeated peoples, which was clearly not the intent, but I guess I just don't fully understand ancient Roman psychology. Anyway, still an interesting coin with a historical reverse type.
Nice coin @Parthicus. I have a slightly different Trajan/Dacian TRAJAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P laureate, draped REVERSE: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC – DAC CAP in ex. Dacian seated r. on pile of arms, his hands bound behind him. Struck at Rome, 103-111 AD 2.8g, 18mm RIC 96 Funny story: A few years back I was working in Romania with the Defense Attache Office. A Romanian Colonel and I had a bit too much Pálinka one night in which, among other things, he insisted that it was the Romanians (Dacians), who taught the Romans to speak Latin. We argued for a couple of hours, but I couldn't persuade him otherwise.
Lovely coin! Here's one where he bears the title Dacicus and which has a Mars reverse, befitting an emperor so skilled in warfare: Trajan, AD 98-117 Roman AR denarius; 2.95 gm, 20 mm Rome, AD 114-117 Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819
Wow. I knew that Romanians tend to be proud of their Roman heritage, but I've never heard that, uh, particular theory before. Reminds me of an eccentric Hungarian who used to frequent a Parthian mailing list some years ago. He was convinced the Hungarians (Magyars) were actually descended from the Parthians, based on some extremely dubious linguistic theories. I guess it's only natural to want to find glory in one's ancient ancestors, even when the facts don't back it up. After all, the Romans needed the Aeneid to give themselves a suitably ancient and heroic origin, rather than face the truth that Rome started out as an insignificant hilltop settlement.
Lovely coin! It echoes a similar 'Germania Capta' reverse struck by Domitian (which itself echoes the 'Judaea Capta' types struck by Vespasian). Domitian AR Denarius, 3.20g Rome mint, 85 AD RIC 331 (R2), BMC 82, RSC 181 Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POTES P P; Germania seated r. on shield; below, broken spear Ex Roma Auction V, 23 March 2013, lot 728.
Nice coin, Parthicus. As you describe, the Dacian War and the ultimate defeat of the Dacian king Decebalus was one of Trajan's major military achievements. It was a long, bloody and protracted war. The Dacian curved sword depicted in your coin was, by the way, a much feared weapon by roman legionaries as it was capable of slicing thru their helmets when swung with full strength. A terrifying prospect! The war was commemorated in many of Trajan's coins. I do not have an example depicting Dacia in attitude of mourning but here are other coins struck in Trajans reign which also commemorate this victory: A sestertius and dupondius of Trajan depicting the emperor on horseback over a dacian soldier: Dupondius of Trajan depicting a bridge thought to have been constructed over the Danube with the purpose of transporting the legions during the Dacian campaign. An as of Trajan depicting Dacian shields and swords:
Here is my only captive for Vespasian. Vespasian Denarius Obv:– IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– IVDEA, Judean captive seated right, at base of trophy Minted in Rome. A.D. 69 - 70 Reference:– RIC II 266. RSC 226. Weight 3.30g. 18.24mm. And how the types above were re-used by Septimius. Septimius Severus denarius Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERET AVG IMP - II, Laureate head right Rev:– INVICTO IMP, Trophy with arms below, dejected captive seated beneath, shield on knees Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 194-5 References:– RIC - Septimius Severus denarius Obv:– IMP CAE L SPE (sic) SEV - PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– TR P III IMP V COS II, captive seated right with peaked cap, hands bound behind, quiver and shields behind, curved sword in ex Minted in Emesa. A.D. 195 Reference:– RIC 432 var (obv legend). RSC 660 var (same)
Thank you! I love the patina and specially the style of the bust. Pity the legends are so weak, though.
