Author Topic: Please confirm the RIC number of Trajanus quadrans (Read 444 times)

ambr0zie · « **on:** October 18, 2020, 04:06:47 pm »

Hello ladies and gentlemen,
Please confirm the attribution of this Trajanus quadrans (if relevant, according to seller - 20 mm., 3,01 g, the coin is not into my possesion so cannot confirm)

Would it be RIC II 693?
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2.tr.693

I cannot find any similar example (on this coin the legend starts with IMP TRAIANO AVG, so definitely not 692, on 692 the legend is IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG)

What confuses me more is that on this coin the legend appears to end with VII P - I can't find any Trajanus coin with this ending so strongly suspect it is because of the wear and the P looks like an I and the legend is IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P

Could an experienced collector please confirm the attribution? (693)
Also, why can't I find another picture of the 693?

Many thanks in advance.

curtislclay · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2020, 04:42:17 pm »

Yes, RIC 693, obverse COS VI P P, with the loop of the first P not struck up or damaged. Trajan never became COS VII, and as COS VI his legend normally included P P.

You can't find many pictures because this is a very rare coin. Woytek 601 reports just three specimens, all from the same pair of dies, in Glasgow, Paris, and CNG 38, 1996, lot 975. So yours appears to be the fourth known specimen, also from the same pair of dies.

ambr0zie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2020, 05:09:19 pm »

Thank you, Curtis!
Managed to find CNG 38, 1996, lot 975 and it very much fits.
Will also buy mr Woytek's book in the near future.
Glad to have a rare coin (currently waiting for it to arrive

), as all I wanted was a random coin from Trajanus.

Would you think the coin requires cleaning? I don't know what those black spots are or if they pose any threat.
I am reluctant in cleaning coins as I would hate ruining a piece of history.

curtislclay · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2020, 05:58:08 pm »

You were lucky! With the normal, shorter obv. legend this is a very common coin.

I think the black deposits will not cause any harm, but they are ugly and distracting, so I would remove them, using a scalpel under a microscope. Minor scratches can generally be made to disappear with Brass Black and/or the smoke from a burning match. However, you might first want to gain some experience by trying to clean a number of less important coins. Or maybe you have a more experienced friend who would be willing to clean the coin for you.

ambr0zie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2020, 06:01:55 pm »

Thank you again.
I think I will not clean it or at least wait until I'm experienced with this. Would be a shame to ruin it.
I have been collecting modern coins and banknotes for years and have just decided to start collecting ancients. New road, lots to learn....