Trajan Sestertius, Trajan reverse
RIC II Trajan 655 · 114 AD-117 AD · Rome
Obverse
Reverse
Antikensammlung, Universität Kiel
Obverse
IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P
Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right
Reverse
IMPERATOR VIII S C
Trajan, in military dress, seated right on high platform on left, by him stand two officers; in front of him stand an officer and four soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards
About This Type
This RIC II Trajan 655 is a sestertius of Trajan (114 AD-117 AD), struck at the Rome mint. The reverse depicts Trajan, in military dress, seated right on high platform on left, by him stand two officers; in front of him stand an officer and four soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards. Struck in bronze at a standard weight of 21.29g, 31mm diameter.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is RIC II Trajan 655?
- RIC II Trajan 655 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (114 AD-117 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 655.
- How do you identify RIC II Trajan 655?
- The obverse depicts Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right with the inscription IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P. The reverse depicts Trajan, in military dress, seated right on high platform on left, by him stand two officers; in front of him stand an officer and four soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards with the inscription IMPERATOR VIII S C. Portrait type: laureate.
- What are the physical specifications of RIC II Trajan 655?
- RIC II Trajan 655 was struck in Bronze, standard weight 21.29g, diameter 31mm, die axis 6 h, struck.
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