1966.43

Denarius of Trajan

3.414 g. AD 100

Obv.: Bust of Trajan r., laureate. IMP(erator) CAES(ar) NERVA TRAIAN(us) AVG(ustus) GERM(anicus).

Rev.: Winged Victory seated, draped, palm in hand, patera (shallow dish for offerings) in right. P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunicia) P(otestate) CO(n)S(ul) III P(ater) P(atriae).

Trajan’s title ‘Germanicus’ commemorated his successes in Upper Germany. He and Nerva assumed this title in AD 97 at the time of Nerva’s adoption of Trajan. The figure of Victory probably alludes to these successes, but may also foreshadow the Dacian campaigns that Trajan began in AD 101. Trajan held his third consulship in AD 100. His coinage did not systematically record the numbers of renewals of tribunician power. He did not assume the title pater patriae (father of his country) immediately on accession, but was persuaded to accept it soon afterwards (Pliny Panegyricus 21).

Mattingly, H., Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, 6 vols (London, 1965) 77; Seaby, H.A., Roman Silver Coins (London, B.A. Seaby, 1967) 223; Robertson, A. Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet, University of Glasgow 5 vols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1962-1982) II 5 no. 27 and pl. 2.