Trajan, 98-117. As (Copper, 27 mm, 11.20 g, 7 h), Rome, circa 107-110. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P Laureate head of Trajan to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder.
Rev. S P Q R OPTIM[O PRINC]IPI / S C Single-span bridge with tower at each end, surmounted by groups of statues; below, boat left over waves. BMC 954. Cohen 543. RIC 569. Woytek 316b. Somewhat smoothed
, otherwise, very fine.
From the collection of a Swabian artist, formed since the 1980s.
The reverse of this sestertius possibly depicts the bridge that Trajan commissioned in AD 104, designed by the renowned architect Apollodorus of Damascus, to span the Danube in preparation for his second Dacian campaign. Another possibility is the Pons Sublicius, which crossed the Tiber in Rome, though this seems less likely, as there is no evidence that Trajan undertook its reconstruction or renovation during his reign.
The bridge, as depicted here, features a single span with two end towers, each surmounted by statuary groups. However, the Pons Sublicius must have had at least two arches, while Apollodorus’ Danube bridge had nineteen. If either of these bridges is indeed represented, the engraver took significant artistic license.
