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Dupondius - Trajan S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 103-111 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Dupondius = 1/8 Denarius |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 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 | Emperor Trajan, veiled and togate, stands facing left in the act of sacrificial libation, extending his right hand holding a patera over a flaming tripod altar positioned to his left. In his left hand he holds a scroll or roll. The figure is rendered in detailed relief with carefully articulated drapery folds. The senatorial mark of value S C (Senatus Consultum) appears in large letters flanking the figure in the field, left and right, while the circumferential legend S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI frames the scene around the upper periphery. |
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| Additional information |
Trajan's use of the OPTIMO PRINCIPI title on coinage beginning around 103 AD reflects a deliberate propaganda campaign — the Senate formally granted him that honorific, "Best of Princes," a distinction no emperor before him had received. The S P Q R formula alongside it was not routine filler; it emphasized that the Senate and People, not just the emperor, were endorsing the claim.
RIC II 548 falls within a prolific minting period coinciding with the Dacian Wars and their aftermath, when enormous quantities of bronze were struck to pay soldiers and fund construction, including the Forum of Trajan.