What is RIC II Trajan 488?

RIC II Trajan 488 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 488.

Trajan Sestertius, Roma reverse (RIC II 488)

Obverse

Hadrien. Autorité émettrice de monnaie Smyrne. Atelier monétaire. Émetteur, PD, via Wikimedia Commons

Catalog Reference

RIC II Trajan 488

Ruler

Trajan

Denomination

Sestertius

Date

103 AD-111 AD

Mint

Rome

Metal

Bronze

Portrait Type

laureate

Obverse

IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P

Bust of Trajan, laureate, left with aegis

Reverse

S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C

Roma, helmeted, in military dress, standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and vertical spear, reversed in left; at her feet a kneeling Dacian holding up his arms to her

About This Type

This RIC II Trajan 488 is a sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD), struck at the Rome mint. The reverse depicts Roma, helmeted, in military dress, standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and vertical spear, reversed in left; at her feet a kneeling Dacian holding up his arms to her.

About the Sestertius

The sestertius was the large brass prestige coin of the Roman imperial series, typically 25–28 grams and 30–35mm in diameter. Its size gave engravers room for the finest portrait art and most detailed reverse compositions in Roman coinage. Sestertii bear the SC mark indicating senatorial authority over base metal coinage.

About the Rome Mint

The Rome mint was the principal mint of the Roman state from the Republic through the fall of the Western Empire. It produced the vast majority of gold and silver coinage and was the only mint for much of the first and second centuries AD.

All Trajan coins Rome mint All Sestertius coins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RIC II Trajan 488?: RIC II Trajan 488 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 488.
How do you identify RIC II Trajan 488?: The obverse depicts Bust of Trajan, laureate, left with aegis with the inscription IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P. The reverse depicts Roma, helmeted, in military dress, standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and vertical spear, reversed in left; at her feet a kneeling Dacian holding up his arms to her with the inscription S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C. Portrait type: laureate.