Roman Empire: Trajan (98-117 AD), Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, c. 116-117 AD, RIC 663, Woytek 591

Roman Empire: Trajan (98-117 AD), Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, c. 116-117 AD, RIC 663, Woytek 591 (20.23 g, 34 mm)

Obverse: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P. Laureate and draped bust right

Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVGVSTI SPQR. Providentia standing left, resting elbow on column and pointing to globe at her feet; S-C across fields

 

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My Trajan addition

 

Uneven strike pressure seems to be an issue with many of these. Also, I have found these coins difficult to photograph. I was initially thinking if “P” of “PRICNCIPI” on the reverse of yours had signs of an overstrike. Matching with another specimen (which took some time, as my “smart” browser kept changing “Trajan” to “Tarzan”!) and looking closely, the letter is quite clear.

On mine, I can read the “missing” legend reasonably clearly, but it just did not show up in multiple attempts to photograph the coin.

 

Very attractive coin with excellent detail and a lovely patina. Congratulations!

My only sestertius of Trajan is very worn and pitted but it is still has some majesty about it (to me anyway).. seems to have been struck about 10 years prior to yours.

TRAJAN AE orichalcum sestertius.
OBV: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS V P P, Laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder.
REV: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, SC in ex, Victory standing left, holding palm branch and erecting trophy; shields at base. 32mm, 23.6g Struck 104-107 CE
-----
This Trajan denarius was struck later in his reign (like your sestertius) .. however it seems to show the Emperor as a much younger man (to my eye)..


AR denarius; 2.92 gm, 20.1 mm, 7 h
Rome, Struck 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

 

Nice coin!

Trajan Sestertius by IMP Shogun posted Jun 28, 2021 at 11:59 PM

Trajan, Sestertius, Rome, 103-111 AD
32.0mm 23.77gg

I like the patina on this one. The side swipe does take away, and a lot of these older gals have some work done, but I knew that going in and I like it even more having it to take a new picture every once and a while.

 

before and after

 

Nice sestertius, @Amit Vyas I have a low-grade version of the OP:


Trajan Æ Sestertius
(c. 114-117 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[IMP CA]ES NER TRAI[ANO OPTIMO] AVG GER DAC PAR[THICO PM TRP COS VI
P P], laureate draped bust right / [PROVIDENTIA AVGVSTI SPQR SC] Providentia stdg. left.
RIC 663; Cohen 320.
(22.37 grams / 31 mm)

Along the same lines, I have an apparently rare dupondius featuring Providentia, with an unusual reverse legend. Here is mine (note the "AE" above the goddess's head):

Trajan Æ Dupondius
(114-117 A.D.)
Rome Mint
IMP CAES N[ER TRAIAN]O OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO PM TR[P COS VI P P], radiate draped bust right / PROVIDENTIAE AVGVSTI SPQR SC, Providentia std. left, elbow on column, globe at feet.
RIC 665 var.; Cohen 322 var.
(13.13 grams / 27 mm)
Attribution Note: "Roma Numismatics, May, 2010 Note: This coin is not in RIC and not in any other catalogues. However, there is a mention of one with the same rev. legend PROVIDENTIAE...was donated to Chester Museum (Chester, England) in 1922 as part of a small find of coins. I am currently trying to find out whether the coin is still in Cheshire and whether the reverse legend of that coin was read correctly." (Wildwinds)

Wildwinds example has a clearer reverse legend (and this is the only example with the AE legend variation I could find - I think it might be a die match to mine):

 

Trajan. (AD 98-117). AE Sestertius. Rome Mint. (33mm, 26.24g).
Struck AD 114-117.
O: IMP CAES TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P; Laureate and draped bust of Trajan right.
R: SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS; Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding up caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left; S-C.
RIC 671

 

Several sestertii of Trajan - advertising Abundantia / food supply to Italy , him addressing his troops...

 

Here is a newly purchased sestertius of Trajan commemorationg his victory over the Dacians. I'm hesitant posting this , since I have not received it yet - it's due in several days. Coming from Spain via DHL - I've had good luck with both DHL and purchases from Spain.

 

IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI PP -
Laureate bust of Trajan right, slight drapery on left shoulder
SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS, S C across fields -
Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding up short caduceus in right and cornucopiae in left
Sestertius, Rome, 214-216
25,72 gr / 34 mm
RIC 672 var. (different bust type). Cohen 352 var. (different bust type), BMCRE -, Sear -, Banti -, Woytek 534b.

 

Woytek 534b cites four specimens of your sestertius with this bust type. The one he illustrates is from the same obv. die as yours, so has the same unusual crossing wreath ties, which Woytek also points out.

So now I learn the German expression for crossed/crossing, though I may never see it or hear it or need it again: über Kreuz!

 

Nice, @Amit Vyas !

I captured this Trajan As for the "SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS". It seems very few Roman coins fully spell out SPQR.


RI
AE As
Trajan
CE 98-117
26mm 11.0g
Rome mint
Laureate Draped -
SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS Victory R wreath palm S-C
RIC 675

 

Thank you Curtis for the info!