Description
Caesar Nerva Traianus, Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty 98-117 AD, Silver Denarius (3.04g, 17.5mm), Rome mint 112-114 AD. Obverse: Laureate bust of Trajan facing to the right, drapery on far-left shoulder, legend surrounds, “IMP TRΛIΛNO AVG GER DΛC PM TR P COS VI PP”. Reverse: Arabia stands forward, head turned to the left, draped, holding branch aloft in right hand and bunch of canes in left arm, ostrich at her feet to the left, “ARAB ADQ” in exergue, legend surrounds, “SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI”. RIC-244; RSC-26; Sear-3118. A charming silver denarius of the Optimus Princeps, well centred on a round flan with all devices present, features archetypically extensive Latin titulature, few minor contact marks otherwise Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Imperator Trāiānō Augustus, germānicus, dācicus, pontifex maximus, Tribūnīciā Potestate, cōnsulāritās sextum, Pater Patriae”, with an English translation of “Imperator Trajan Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, conqueror of the Dacians, Chief High Priest of the College of Pontiffs, invested with Tribunician Power, honoured with the office of Consul for the sixth time, Father of the Nation”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Senātus populusque rōmānus optimō prī̆ncipī, Arabia [Petraea] adquīsīvit”, with an English translation of “The Senate and the People of Rome to the ‘Best Ruler’, acquired Arabia Petraea”.