| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D. |  |
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|   | In 106 A.D., Trajan besieged Sarmizegetusa, the Dacian capital. With the aid of a Dacian traitor, the Romans found and destroyed water pipes supplying the city. Running out of water and food the city fell and was burned to the ground. Decebalus fled but, followed by the Roman cavalry, committed suicide rather than face capture. The river-god on the reverse is usually described as Tiber, however, the reverse likely personifies the impact of the Roman destruction of the Dacian's water supply. Dacia's own water supply has betrayed her, knocked her to the ground, and is choking her.
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| SH63939. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC II 556, BMCRE III 793 note, Cohen 526, aF, weight 20.524 g, maximum diameter 32.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 103 - 111 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NERVA TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C, River-god, cloak billowing behind, leaning left with right knee on supine Dacia, forcing her to the ground, choking her with his right hand, reeds in left; very scarce; $300.00 (€231.00) |
|  | In Roman mythology, Aequitas was the minor goddess of fair trade and honest merchants. Aequitas was also a personification of the virtues equity and fairness of the emperor (Aequitas Augusti). She is depicted with a cornucopia and a balance suggesting Aequitas Augusti is a source of prosperity.
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| RS64028. Silver denarius, RIC II 118, RSC II 85, BMCRE III 281, BnF IV 257, gVF, toned, weight 2.877 g, maximum diameter 18.3 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 108 - 109 A.D.; obverse IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Aequitas standing left, scales in right, cornucopia in left; ex Helios Numismatik auction 7 (12 Dec 2011), lot 725; $260.00 (€200.20) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Stobi, Macedonia |  | |
| SH58236. Bronze AE 22, Josifovski Stobi 56 (V8/R10); Varbanov III 3820 var (rev legend), BMC Macedonia p. 104, 3 var (same); SNG Cop -, SNG ANS -, Lindgren -, VF, weight 9.054 g, maximum diameter 21.6 mm, die axis 180o, Stobi mint, obverse IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN [AVG GERM P M T P COS III], laureate head right; reverse MVNI-CIPI S-TO-BE-NSI, Tetrastyle temple, Asklepios standing facing within, holding serpent staff, round shield on pediment; bold srike, fantastic portrait; rare; $250.00 (€192.50) |
| SH59034. Silver quinarius, RSC II 430a, BCMRE III 225, RIC II 196 var (no aegis), VF, weight 1.236 g, maximum diameter 14.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 103 - 111 A.D.; obverse IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate head right, aegis on far shoulder; reverse SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Victory walking right, wreath in right, palm frond over shoulder in left; from the Raymond Carson Collection; rare; $200.00 (€154.00) |
| Roman Empire, Anonymous, Domitian to Antoninus Pius, c. 81 - 161 A.D. |  | RIC identifies this type as common but it appears to be rare with the dove facing left. |
| RB63623. Bronze quadrans, RIC II p. 218, 25, VF, weight 1.847 g, maximum diameter 14.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 81 - 161 A.D.; obverse diademed and draped bust of Venus right; reverse dove standing left, S C in ex; rare; $200.00 (€154.00) |
| SH59932. Copper quadrans, BMCRE III 1068, RIC II 687, Cohen 349, VF, weight 2.363 g, maximum diameter 17.3 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 98 - 102 AD; obverse IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder; reverse S C, Urn containing palm frond and wreath set on three-quarter view table; $180.00 (€138.60) |
|  | Fortuna distributed good and evil among mankind according to her caprice and without any regard to merit.
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| RB63910. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC II 505, BMCRE III 931, Cohen 410, VF, weight 12.444 g, maximum diameter 26.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 104 - 111 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, radiate bust right, drapery on left shoulder; reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C, Pax standing left, branch downward in right, cornucopia in left, right foot on the head and shoulders of a Dacian; nice green patin; $180.00 (€138.60) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Nakrasa, Lydia |  | |
| SH58872. Bronze AE 20, SNG Cop 298, SNGvA 3035, BMC Lydia p. 167, 16, VF, weight 3.651 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 0o, Nakrasa mint, obverse AU NER TRAIANON C E GER, laureate head right; reverse NAKRACITWN, facing cult statue of Artemis within tetrastyle temple, bow in right, drawing arrow from quiver with left; very rare; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D. |  | Trajan was a brilliant soldier and administrator. He restored the Senate to its full status, started a welfare program to feed and care for poor children, directed an extensive building program across the empire, annexed Dacia and invaded Arabia. Under Trajan, Rome reached its greatest extent. And he managed to do all this without a deficit or increasing taxes.
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| RB63728. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC II 658, BMCRE III 1019, aF, weight 23.403 g, maximum diameter 33.8 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 115 - 116 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate and draped bust right; reverse IMPERATOR VIIII / S C in exergue, Trajan seated right on platform, placed on left, accompanied by two officers and addressing five soldiers; rare; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | |
| RX57415. Bronze drachm, Milne 621; Geissen 551; Dattari 765; Kampmann-Ganschow 27.316; BMC Alexandria p. 61, 510; Emmett 462, Fair, weight 21.827 g, maximum diameter 33.4 mm, die axis 215o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 110 - 28 Aug 111 A.D.; obverse AUT TRAIAN CEB GERM DAKIK, laureate head right; reverse Trajan in slow quadriga of elephants right, laurel branch in right, standard in left, L ID (year 14) above; $145.00 (€111.65) |
|  | After his defeat in 101 A.D., King Decebalus complied with Rome for a time, but then incited the tribes to pillage Roman colonies across the Danube. Trajan marched into Dacia in 105 A.D. After defeating the surrounding mountain fortresses, in 106 A.D. Trajan besieged Sarmizegetusa, the Dacian capital. With the aid of a Dacian traitor, the Romans found and destroyed water pipes supplying the city. Running out of water and food the city fell and was burned to the ground. Decebalus fled but, followed by the Roman cavalry, committed suicide rather than face capture. The Romans found Decebalus' treasure, estimated at 165,500 kg of gold and 331,000 kg of silver, in the river of Sargesia. |
| RB55927. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC II 563, BMCRE III 887, aVF, weight 12.110 g, maximum diameter 27.8 mm, die axis 165o, Rome mint, 103 - 111 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, radiate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S-C, Dacian seated left on shields and arms in attitude of mourning, trophy of arms before her; ex Glen Woods; $130.00 (€100.10) |
|  | The extraordinarily long obverse legend recognizes Trajan as the conqeror of Germania, Dacia, and Parthia. |
| RB55932. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC II 676, BMCRE III 1052, Cohen 356, VF, weight 11.560 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 107 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P, radiate and draped bust right; reverse SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS S C, Trajan advancing right, between two trophies; $130.00 (€100.10) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia |  | |
| RP57032. Silver drachm, Metcalf 66e; Sydenham 203 var (bust type-no globe), F, toned, weight 6.885 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 180o, Caesarea mint, 112 - 117 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB GEPM DAK, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind, globe beneath; reverse DHM EX UPAT OV, Tyche standing left, rudder in right, cornucopia in left; scarce; $125.00 (€96.25) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | The sistrum was a type of timbrel, or rattle, made of brass. It was oval, and its circumference perforated with several holes opposite each other, through which were inserted horizontally small metallic rods. Shaken in cadence it emitted a harsh sound. Isis is sometimes depicted holding a sistrum and it was carried by her priests. |
| RX58096. Bronze dichalkon, Dattari 1114, Kampmann-Ganschow 27.308, SRCV II 3319, Emmett 720, Giessen -, Milne -, SNG Cop -, BMC -, SNG Milan -, SNG Hunterian -, VF, weight 1.576 g, maximum diameter 13.6 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Sep 109 - 28 Sep 110 A.D.; obverse no legend, laureate head right; reverse sistrum, L - IG (year 13) flanking in lower fields; very rare (Emmett R5); $125.00 (€96.25) |
|  | In 107 A.D. Trajan received an ambassador from India. |
| RB53910. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC II 676, BMCRE III 1052, Cohen 356, aVF, nice green patina, weight 11.670 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 107 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P, radiate and draped bust right; reverse SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS S C, Trajan advancing right, between two trophies; $115.00 (€88.55) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Laodikeia ad Mare, Syria |  | In 114, Trajan defeated the Parthians and overran Armenia and northern Mesopotamia. In 115, he captured the Parthian capital Ctesiphon. |
| RP59685. Bronze AE 27, SNG Cop 345; BMC Syria p. 253, 42, aVF, weight 10.37 g, maximum diameter 27.1 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Mare mint, 114 - 115 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP NER TRAIANOC APICT KAIC CEB GEP DAK, laureate head right; reverse IOYLIEWNTWN KAI LAODIKEWN BXP, turreted bust of Tyche right, IOU below chin; $85.00 (€65.45) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Ascalon, Philistia |  | Ascalon's era of autonomy, used to date this coin, began in 104 B.C. |
| RP58764. Bronze AE 24, Rosenberger 143, BMC Palestine 153, SNG ANS var 706 - 712 (date), SNG Cop 37 - 38 var (same), gF, weight 10.630 g, maximum diameter 23.7 mm, die axis 0o, Ascalon mint, 113 - 114 A.D.; obverse CEBACTOS (or similar), laureate head right; reverse ACKALO, Tyche-Astarte standing left on galley, long scepter vertical before in right, aphlaston in left, altar left, dove over ZIC (year 217) right; $80.00 (€61.60) |
| Anonymous Quadrantes, Time of Domitian to Marcus Aurelius, c. 80 - 180 A.D. |  | |
| RB59714. Copper quadrans, RIC II p. 216, 7, F, weight 3.035 g, maximum diameter 15 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 138 - 161 A.D.; obverse helmeted bust of Minerva right; reverse owl standing half-right, head facing, S C at sides; $75.00 (€57.75) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Struck at Rome for use in Syria |  | In 115, Trajan was in Antioch for his war against Parthia, when the city was struck by an earthquake. He was forced to take shelter in the circus for several days. He and his successor restored the city. |
| RB52325. Orichalcum semis, McAlee 516, RIC II 650, BMCRE III 1100, aVF, weight 4.486 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 115 - 116 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM, radiate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse DAC PARTHICO P M TR POT XX COS VI P P, large S C in oak wreath; attractive patina but some edge flaking (stable); $70.00 (€53.90) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Struck in Rome for use in Syria |  | In 116 A.D., Trajan made Syria a Roman province. The orichalcum coinage of 116 A.D., which included this coin, was struck in Rome and shipped to Antioch. |
| RB57359. Bronze chalkous, McAlee 526, BMCRE III 1075, gF, weight 0.807 g, maximum diameter 11.6 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 116 A.D.; obverse laureate and draped bust right; reverse large S•C in wreath; rare; $70.00 (€53.90) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Berytus, Phoenicia |  | Named for the daughter of Augustus, Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus was founded in 14 B.C. with veterans of the 5th and 8th legions. Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa I, and Herod Agrippa II built sumptuous monuments and sponsored gladiatorial combats at Berytos. After the siege of Jerusalem, Titus gave gladiatorial games at Berytos, in which the combatants were Jews. |
| RP46156. Bronze AE 25, BMC Phoenicia p. 64, 84; SNG Cop 95 corr., F, weight 13.970 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Berytos mint, obverse [IMP NER TRAIANO AVG...], laureate head right; reverse BER - COL / IVL - AVG, FEL in ex, founder plowing with two oxen right; rare; $60.00 (€46.20) |
| Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Ascalon, Philistia |  | Ascalon's era of autonomy, used to date this coin, began in 104 B.C. |
| RP56690. Bronze AE 24, cf. Rosenberger 128 ff.; BMC Palestine p. 123, 136 ff.; SNG Cop 38 - 39; SNG ANS 706 - 712 (all various dates), gF, weight 12.585 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ascalon mint, 105 - 117 A.D.; obverse CEBACTOS (or similar), laureate head right; reverse ACKALO, Tyche-Astarte standing left on galley, holding scepter and aphlaston, altar left, dove over uncertain date right; $40.00 (€30.80) |
|  | Quadrantes, like quinarii, were issued only occasionally, perhaps exclusively for imperial distributions. Suetonius reported that, from the roof of the Basilica Julia "Caligula threw coins among the people." Perhaps this small coin was thrown to the crowd by Trajan himself at a similar event. |
| RB56909. Copper quadrans, RIC II 702, BMCRE III 1062, gF, weight 2.082 g, maximum diameter 12.5 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 98 - c. 106 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate and draped bust of Hercules right; reverse S C, boar walking right; scarce; $35.00 (€26.95) |
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