What is RIC II Trajan 656?

RIC II Trajan 656 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (114 AD-117 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 656.

Trajan Sestertius, Trajan reverse (RIC II 656)

Obverse

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

Catalog Reference

RIC II Trajan 656

Ruler

Trajan

Denomination

Sestertius

Date

114 AD-117 AD

Mint

Rome

Metal

Bronze

Portrait Type

laureate

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 six soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards

About This Type

This RIC II Trajan 656 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 six soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards.

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 656?: RIC II Trajan 656 is a Bronze Sestertius of Trajan (114 AD-117 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. II no. II Trajan 656.
How do you identify RIC II Trajan 656?: 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 six soldiers whom he is haranguing; behind in background, three standards with the inscription IMPERATOR VIII S C. Portrait type: laureate.