Description
Caesar Nerva Trā̆iānus ‘Optimus Prī̆nceps’ (Trajan), Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty 98-117 AD, Silver Denarius (3.63g, 18mm), Rome mint 107-108 AD. Obverse: Laureate bust of Trajan facing to the right, slight drapery over far-left shoulder, legend surrounds, “IMP TRΛIΛNO ΛVG GER DΛC PM TR P”. Reverse: Fortuna stands left, draped in stola, holding cornucopia in left arm and rudder before a ship’s prow with right, legend surrounds, “COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC”. RIC-122; RSC-87; Sear-3125. A lightly toned, visually appealing offering of the Optimus Princeps, details Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Imperātor Trāiānō Augustus, Germānicus, Dācicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribūnīciā Potestas”, 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”. The reverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “cōnsulāritās quīntum, Senātus populusque rōmānus optimō prī̆ncipī”, with an English translation of “Honoured with the Office of Consul for a fifth term, the Senate and the People of Rome to the ‘Best Ruler’”.
