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Æ34 - Trajan L ΙΗ
| Issuer | Alexandria (Egypt) |
|---|---|
| Year | 114-115 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Laureate bust of the emperor Trajan facing right, draped and cuirassed, depicted from the rear, conveying a three-quarter back view characteristic of Alexandrian provincial coinage. The laureate wreath is rendered in fine detail atop the emperor's head, with carefully engraved curls visible at the nape and temple. The Greek imperial titulature runs around the periphery of the flan, partially visible due to the coin's irregular planchet and a notable chip at the right edge. The portrait displays the strong, idealised features typical of Trajanic numismatic art, combining Roman imperial iconography with the local Alexandrian die-cutting tradition. |
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| Obverse lettering | ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ΑΡΙ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ (Translation: Emperor Trajan, the Best, Augustus Germanicus Dacicus) |
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| Additional information |
Year 18 of Trajan's reign corresponded to a moment of peak imperial ambition: his Parthian campaign was underway, and Egypt's administrative machinery was under pressure to demonstrate loyalty through coinage. Alexandrian bronzes of this regnal year are not rare, but surviving examples tend to circulate heavily — Alexandria's commercial density meant these coins worked hard before retiring.
The Alexandrian mint operated on a closed currency system; Roman silver was barred from Egypt, forcing the province to sustain its own bronze and billon economy entirely.