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Orbis Collectibles

RIC II Trajan 52

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC II Trajan 52. Denomination: Denarius. Authority: Trajan. Mint: Rome. The obverse shows bust of Trajan, laureate, right (sometimes draped on left shoulder), with the legend IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM.

The reverse shows mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round waist, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder, with the legend P M TR P COS IIII P P.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
7
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Trajan was Roman emperor from 98 to 117, succeeding Nerva who had adopted him as heir after distinguishing himself in campaigns against Germanic tribes. A successful soldier-emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, he presided over extensive military expansions, including wars that annexed Dacia and Nabataea and incorporated Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, taking the Roman Empire to its maximum territorial extent.

Struck at the mint of Rome, this silver denarius belonged to the denomination that served as the standard Roman silver coin from circa 211 BC until the third century. The obverse features a laureate bust of the emperor with the legend IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, while the reverse depicts the helmeted god Mars advancing with a spear and a trophy over his shoulder, accompanied by the inscription P M TR P COS IIII P P.

Physical characteristics

Material
Silver
Denomination
Denarius

Technical characteristics

Mint
Rome
Authority
Trajan

Design

Obverse
Bust of Trajan, laureate, right (sometimes draped on left shoulder)
Reverse
Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round waist, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder
Obverse legend
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM
Reverse legend
P M TR P COS IIII P P

Identification

Type reference
RIC II Trajan 52
Denomination and metal
Denarius, Silver
Obverse legend to match
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM
Reverse legend to match
P M TR P COS IIII P P
Source note
Type description from the American Numismatic Society's Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE); individual specimens differ in die, flan size, weight and wear, and legend breaks may vary.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Editorial verification required.
  • Weight, diameter and mint marks require specimen-level evidence.
  • Museum specimen photographs are linked by the source; local photographs and reuse rights remain unverified.
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