Roman Empire — Trajan — Silver Denarius
Also known as: Denarius of Trajan
DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.
Period
AD 98–117
Issuing entity
Roman EmpireSilver denarius struck during the reign of Trajan, with a laureate imperial portrait and a wide range of reverse types.
Historical context
Trajan's reign saw a very large output of denarii from the mint of Rome, with reverse types referring to military campaigns, public works and imperial virtues.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Manufacture
- Hand struck from engraved dies
- Typical diameter
- 18–20 mm
Design
- Obverse
- Laureate bust of Trajan right, with imperial titulature in the legend
- Reverse
- Varies widely by issue — personifications, deities, military and architectural types
Identification
- Warning
- Never attribute an ancient coin on visual similarity alone; legends, weight and style must all agree
- Key diagnostics
- Attribution depends on the full obverse legend and titulature, which changes across the reign and dates the issue
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Conflicting sources
- Standard references differ in how Trajan's issues are ordered and dated; the RIC arrangement has been revised by later scholarship.
Research required
- Individual RIC numbers are not recorded here; each reverse type requires its own verified entry.