I finally bought a Trajan's column denarius of my own last week at a cgb.fr auction. It's certainly not in great condition, but I'd call it above average for the type. I particularly like how clearly one can see the spiral bands running up the column, with dots representing the friezes on the actual column. Also, I was able to buy it for about 1/5 of the price that a nicer example sold for in another auction the same day. If I could have bought that one for what I paid for this one, I would have, but I simply couldn't justify paying that much more for it. Trajan AR Denarius, AD 114, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, seen from three-quarters behind; IMP TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI PP / Rev. Trajan’s column, with spiral bands on face enclosing large dots, placed on decorated base with door in center, flanked by two eagles with beaks facing inwards, and surmounted by statue of Trajan standing facing, holding long scepter in left hand [right arm not visible]; SPQR OPTI-MO PRINCIPI. 17.5 mm., 3.06 g., 6 h. RIC II Trajan 293, RSC II Trajan 558 (laureate bust draped but rev. var.: OPTIMO rather than OPTI-MO), BMCRE III Trajan 455 & Pl. 17 No. 2 (laureate bust draped, OPTI-MO); Sear RCV 891 (3rd ed. 1981) [not in Millennium Edition]. Purchased from cgb.fr Internet Auction, 26 April 2022, Lot 95. All the descriptions of this type say that the statue of Trajan atop the column is standing left, but he sure looks to me like he's facing the viewer. Does anyone have any idea what the decorations on the base are supposed to represent?
That's a wonderful acquisition @DonnaML, congrats , it feels so very good when a long-sought coin becomes yours. Enjoy. In my opinion, the condition is great, all the details are perfectly visible. As far as I know from the description of mine, the podium is decorated with garlands, if that is what you mean? below is the base with a door through which people could access the platform above. On mine that base has some kind of lines, maybe simulating bricks... As his right leg seems to be slightly bend maybe he is standing what they sometimes call ¾ facing?
I think it represents what is on the actual pedestal : a door giving access to the interior of the column (it is hollow, there are stairs to the top), above the door a frame with an inscription, two victories on both sides. On each side of the door a pile of arms with shields. This decor is very simplified on denarii because the dies are small, the celator just suggested the two victories' silhouette. But on larger dies like those of sestertii, the decor has more details (not my coin of course )
That sestertius is truly amazing -- I don't think I've ever seen one with Trajan's column before. Not only does it make the figures on the base clear (and I can now see what the very schematic shapes on my denarius are supposed to represent), but it actually has actual figures on the column itself, rather than mere dots as on the denarii. Many thanks for posting it.