I Splurged and bought a Silver Denarius. It was right at 40, not bad. He's ( Older Dealer Friend ) has a shoebox Marked "Ancient World Coins" with old sandy colored 2x2's. They've been stuck back awhile and he likes to quibble with me. As he can't make shows anymore. I picked up about 20 good Greek and Early Empire, none of his ancients are attibuted. Thanks to his wife Mary, great coffee and the Kolochies are some of the best I've ever eaten. I have to say some of as my Grama was Chech, well. Great to get to visit and trade with you Mike, looking to do it again soon.
It's a nice coin, but I can't make out enough of the obverse legend for an attribution. Looks a bit like Trajan, maybe... Edit: I guess if Chris calls it a Trajan it's a Trajan. I'm not so good at identifying portraits yet. I get Trajan and Hadrian confused sometimes.
Lol, remember I do not collect Roman. From the size of the legends and pics I was just assuming Trajan. Btw, I have problems with Hadrian and AP, those two can be tough, at least in my eyes.
I don't just collect denarii, but I believe I focus on them. This is a fair denarius with a good portrait of Trajan. His portrait style is always so regal. BTW what are Kolochies? I've been to Prague several times, but I do not know this name.
It's hard to say for certain, but I believe I may have this coin: Trajan AR Denarius OBV: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate draped bust right REV: P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR, Virtus standing right holding spear & parazonium, foot on helmet Struck at Rome, 99-100 AD 2.8g, 19mm RIC 355v
Good pick up. What's most interesting about this coin is that the obverse inscription has 31 letters. That's remarkable for ancient technology (without a magnifying glass) on merely a denarius. The coinage of Trajan seemed to push the limits on lettering. This larger sestertius (not mine from wildwinds.com) has 40 letters on the obverse: Trajan AE Sestertius. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI SC, ARAB ADQVIS in ex, Arabia standing facing with branch & bundle of sticks; camel at feet. RIC 466, Cohen 32. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s0997.html#RIC_0466:Sest Good stuff. guy
My trajan Trajan (98 - 117 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. R: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Spes walking left, flower in right, raising hem of skirt. Rome 3.5g 20mm SRCV II 3127, RIC II 127, RSC II 84
OP, nice pickup for 40 bucks. You can't go wrong getting ancient silver for that price and the coin looks good too.
