I like to research some for me relatively unknown fields within Roman coinage. I therefore want to delve a little more into Trajan's coins. To begin with, I think that it is important to know the main references. That's why I wonder: What are the most important and accurate references for Trajan's reign? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different references? I hope some of you share your experiences. Thanks in advance.
By far the best reference, though unfortunately in German: B. Woytek, Die Reichsprägung des Kaisers Traianus, Vienna 2010. Lists dozens of important new coins and hundreds of bust varieties that are not in the previous standard catalogues, and illustrates virtually every known variant on 134 excellent plates.
I would have to agree with both @Roman Collector as well as @curtisclay that the Woytek is by far the best reference currently available on the coins of Trajan. When I purchased the book some years ago I had something like 5 coins of Trajan that were variants of those listed in RIC. All 5 were in Woytek. Now I have to say that the book is in German thus if you cannot read German you can see what he thinks but not how he came to those conclusions. However as near as I can tell every variety is plated which makes it very handy. Furthermore he does give an idea of the number of specimens he has seen of each variety and in some cases list where they have been seen. Thus one can get some idea of the relative scarcity of each coin. I currently have 3 coins plated and one other referred to in this book . This is one of them Trajan Ae Dupondius 112/113 AD Obv. bust right radiate aegis on far shoulder Rv. Felicitas standing left RIC 626 Woytek 481e This coin illustrated 11.46 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen
For a detailed evaluation of Woytek's excellent catalogue see my review article in Numismatic Chronicle 172, 2012, pp. 347-362.
