While I am active on the world coin side I am more of a lurker on the ancient threads. I only have a handful of ancients and most of the ones I have were purchased already having been attributed. The below coin was a gift given to me long enough ago that I'm embarrassed that this is the first shot at my own attribution. It just came in an unmarked flip. I knew enough that it was Roman but beyond that I was clueless. So here is my photo and attribution. The text that I can make out is: Obverse: NER TRAIANO OPTIM Reverse: PARTHICO PM TRP PRO VID Weight: 2.92g Diameter: 18.86mm Can someone confirm this or steer me in the right direction. I believe it is a: Sear 3154 Trajan Denarius. IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate draped bust right / PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, PRO-VID across fields, Providentia standing left, holding sceptre, resting left arm on column, pointing with a baton at a globe at feet.. RSC 313.
Welcome to the dark side, @Chris B ! I hope you'll acquire more of these beauties for your collection. That's a nice example of the final issue (Group VI) of Trajan. You've attributed it correctly! Trajan received the title of Parthicus ("victor over the Parthians") in AD 116 after the fall of Ctesiphon and the collapse of the Parthian resistance in late AD 115. The penultimate issues bear the title PARTHICO on the obverse inscription. Mattingly (BMCRE3, p. lxxxvi) notes the last issue is characterized by PARTHICO being moved to the reverse. Denarii of this final issue include Virtus, Fortuna, Providentia, and Salus reverse types (ibid, pp. 122-124). Both Mattingly and Sear date this issue to AD 117. This type features Providentia, referring not simply to the providentia (foresight) of the emperor, but the wider providentia of the gods (ibid, p. lxxxv). Providentia is typically depicted on coins holding a rod, with which she sometimes points to a globe at her feet, and scepter. Not infrequently, particularly on issues of the third century, she is depicted holding the globe. I have one of these in my collection, too! Trajan, AD 98-117. Roman AR denarius, 3.20 g, 18.3 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 117. Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate and draped bust, right. Rev: PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Providentia, draped, standing left, pointing with right hand at large globe left, and holding vertical scepter in left, left elbow resting on column; PRO VID left and right in field. Refs: RIC 361; BMCRE 640-44; Cohen 313; RCV 3154; Woytek 580v; UCR 764; Wulfing 712.
Something worthy of note... Accolades were bestowed upon emperors for successful campaigns. Hence the GER stands for 'kicked some German butt', the DAC stands for 'kicked some Dacian butt' and the PARTHICO stands for 'kicked some Parthian butt'. This (in addition to other bestowed titles referenced in legends) can help in narrowing the time-frame that a coin was minted. For example, Trajan engaged the Parthians after A.D. 114, hence that is how your coin can be dated to the window between then and Trajan's death. EDIT: Shoots.. I've got to be quick on the draw around here. @Roman Collector already beat me to the punch.
I hope you realize how good it is to have a new person on the ancient side here who tries and succeeds with his own ID work. I hope you will become more active here.
While not the purdiest specimen, here's an example that I have that displays PARTHICO on the obverse legend. Trajan (AD 98-117) AR Denarius Rome, Struck 116-117 AD O: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO - Laureate and draped bust right R: P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR - Virtus, helmeted, in military dress, standing right, left foot set on helmet, holding vertical spear reversed in right hand and upright parazonium in left RIC II 353
Thank you, everyone, for the kind comments. I think this coin was almost the perfect coin to start with. In my opinion, there was a lot to work with. Most of the legend was legible. Some of the coins I've seen you guys post have made me feel pretty intimidated with the process. I know that comes with experience. I would probably be considered an "advanced" collector in the world coin area so I understand a lot of the research process. To me, the most important thing is knowing where to look and having a good library. I do, but not enough of it is devoted to ancients. @dougsmit You are not going to see me post one of those threads with a title "what have I got here?". Those annoy me to no end. I figure if a person isn't going to take the time to help themselves them I'm not going to tell them how to get there.
Am I correct that you've stated elsewhere that Trajan was awarded the title Parthicus in February 116, which allows a further narrowing down of the dates of coins with and without that title? Also, I believe that the title "Optimus" was awarded to him after the annexation of Armenia -- I forget the exact date -- so the presence or absence of that title also permits more specific dating.
....That's good!...I hope you don't come across a coin that you have no idea where to start!?...Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the whole point of numismatics was to help fellow collectors when they hit a full stop!?? ....OOOO Just listen to yourself.......Even though you found your coin you STILL wanted verification as to whether it was correct!....It's a real shame you have this attitude towards other collectors......BTW...Nice coin.......
Welcome to ancients, and well done on the attribution. Here's another reference number for your coin and a good online resource for Roman imperial Coins, RIC II Trajan 361. And, a Trajan denarius that I haven't posted on CT before from roughly same time period as your coin: Trajan, AD 98-117, AR Denarius, Rome, AD 114-117 Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO, laureate and draped bust right Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round shoulders, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder in left Ref: RIC II Trajan 340
After taking the plunge with the coin in the original post I receive a lot of positive feedback from many of you. It inspired me to purchase the lot below. It was purchased from a dealer that I have dealt with many times before via eBay purchases although he doesn't normally have ancients. The first 2 pictures are the lot listing. I went after it because it appeared that most of them would be identifiable by me with a little work. They arrived today and I am pretty happy. Most of them show promise to these untrained eyes. The next picture is probably the one I am going to start with because, well it seems like the one with the most to work with and I like it. I know you guys probably have already identified it and others but please hold your comments in regards to that until I have worked at it for a bit. I will work on these in my free time and post my results.
Congrats, @Chris B , for busting into some Ancients! NICE LOT... have fun attributing those. I have an AE Trajan to toss out: Roman Imperial Trajan Egypt AE Dichalkon 12.9mm 1.25g Laureate hd L Rhinoceros walking L LI-Z yr 17 CE 113-114 Emmet 719 var. rhino right Ex: SteveX6 Collection
