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As - Trajan S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 103-111 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | As = 1⁄16 Denarius |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Three military standards arranged side by side in the field: a legionary eagle (aquila) mounted on a pole at centre, flanked by two signa militaria, each decorated with a series of phalerae (disc ornaments) and a crescent-shaped lunula near the top. The standards are rendered in bold relief and occupy nearly the full height of the reverse field. The senatorial legend S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI appears in the surrounding field, with the senatorial authorization mark S C divided across the lower field. The overall composition is symmetrical and deliberately evocative of Roman military glory. |
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| Additional information |
Trajan's use of OPTIMO PRINCIPI — "best of princes" — was not formulaic flattery. The Senate formally voted him that title in 114 AD, though it began appearing on coinage well before the official decree, a rare instance of the mint anticipating senatorial action rather than commemorating it. The abbreviation S P Q R preceding the title was itself a pointed constitutional gesture, framing imperial authority as a delegation from senate and people rather than a personal possession.
RIC II 588 falls within a heavily produced series across Trajan's Dacian war years, when military expenditure drove sustained mint output at Rome.