What is RIC II Trajan 553?

RIC II Trajan 553 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 553.

Trajan Sestertius, Trajan reverse (RIC II 553)

Obverse

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

Catalog Reference

RIC II Trajan 553

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, right with aegis (sometimes with aegis)

Reverse

S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C

Trajan, bare-headed, togate, standing left on platform on right, in gesture of adlocutio; behind him, praefect; below, four men with extended hands; in front, a woman reclining right with wheel; on left, three obelisks

About This Type

This RIC II Trajan 553 is a sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD), struck at the Rome mint. The reverse depicts Trajan, bare-headed, togate, standing left on platform on right, in gesture of adlocutio; behind him, praefect; below, four men with extended hands; in front, a woman reclining right with wheel; on left, three obelisks.

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 553?: RIC II Trajan 553 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (103 AD-111 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 553.
How do you identify RIC II Trajan 553?: The obverse depicts Bust of Trajan, laureate, right with aegis (sometimes with aegis) with the inscription IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P. The reverse depicts Trajan, bare-headed, togate, standing left on platform on right, in gesture of adlocutio; behind him, praefect; below, four men with extended hands; in front, a woman reclining right with wheel; on left, three obelisks with the inscription S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C. Portrait type: laureate.