Æ - Trajan

Emissor Antioch on the Orontes
Ano 98-117
Tipo Standard circulation coin
Valor
Moeda
Composição Bronze
Peso 13.81 g
Diâmetro 28 mm
Espessura
Formato Round (irregular)
Técnica Hammered
Orientação Variable alignment ↺
Gravador(es)
Em circulação até
Referência(s) RPC Online III#3586, Wruck#184, CRS#201, McAlee#487(d)
Descrição do anverso Laureate head of Trajan to the right.
Escrita do anverso Greek
Legenda do anverso ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ
(Translation: Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus.)
Descrição do reverso Laurel wreath.
Escrita do reverso Greek, Latin
Legenda do reverso S C Δ
(Translation: By Decree of the Senate.)
Bordo
Casa da moeda
Tiragem ND (98-117) - -
ID Numisquare 1266725850
Informações adicionais

Historical Context: This bronze Æ coin, issued in Antioch on the Orontes, dates to Emperor Trajan's reign (98-117 CE), a period marking the Roman Empire's greatest territorial expansion. Trajan, Optimus Princeps, oversaw vast building programs and successful military campaigns in Dacia and Parthia. Antioch, Roman Syria's capital, was a vital eastern metropolis and a crucial hub. Its coinage facilitated daily commerce in this region, underscoring Rome's control and the city's prosperity.

Artistry: Specific engravers remain anonymous, but this coin likely originated from a local Antiochene workshop, meticulously following official Roman imperial prototypes for the emperor's portraiture. The obverse typically featured a laureate bust of Trajan, executed in a classicizing style emphasizing his mature authority. Reverse designs on Antiochene bronzes commonly depicted local deities, civic symbols, or imperial allegories, blending Roman iconography with regional traditions.

Technical/Grading: Struck on a substantial 28mm flan weighing 13.81 grams, this Æ coin represents a significant provincial bronze module. For a laureate bust, high points prone to wear or weak strike include the wreath details, the emperor's hair above the forehead, and the highest parts of the drapery. Collectors prioritize examples with a well-centered strike, full flan coverage, and clear rendering of both obverse and reverse devices, as provincial bronzes frequently exhibit striking variability.

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