Denarius from Trajan's last issue -- Parthico and Providentia

Not rare. Not high-grade. Nice nonetheless and a good example of the final issue (Group VI) of Trajan.

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.

Let's see your late-reign Trajans, Providentia coins, or anything you feel is relevant!


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.

 

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That a sweet pick-up @Roman Collector

 

Nice new pickup, RC. Here are a couple of Providentia.


Lucius Verus, AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.08 g), Rome, 161-162. IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG Bare bust of Lucius Verus to right. Rev. PROV DEOR TR P II COS II Providentia standing front, head left, holding globe in her right hand and cornucopia with her left. RIC 482 (Marcus Aurelius).


Gordian III (238-244 AD). AR Antoninianus (22-23 mm, 4.58 g), Rome.
Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind/ Rev. PROVID AVG, Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe. RIC IV 148.

 

I missed this thread when it was first posted. Threads seem to die faster than I can read them lately. I like your new Trajan denarius very much @Roman Collector . I’ll share my Trajan sestertus I haven’t posted in a while.


Roman Empire
Trajan (AD 98-117)
AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 115-116
Dia.: 32 mm
Wt.: 20.94 g
Obv.: IMP CAES TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Trajan draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS at bottom FORT RED / S C Fortunate seated holding holding rudder and cornucopia
Ref.: RIC II 652