Trajan, 98-117. Aureus (Gold, 20 mm, 7.27 g, 7 h), Rome, circa 107-108. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan to right, seen from behind. Rev. COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC Eagle with spread wings standing facing on thunderbolt, head to left. BMC 352. Calicó 1009. Cohen 96 corr. (bust also cuirassed). RIC 144 corr. (bust also cuirassed). Woytek 261f. Rare. A boldly struck and very attractive coin with powerful iconography. A few tiny marks and with traces of mounting on the edge, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



Trajan’s prestige reached new heights with the conclusion of the second Dacian War in 107 and the subsequent creation of the province of Dacia. In Rome, the emperor celebrated his second triumph and drew upon the immense spoils of war - reportedly 500,000 pounds of gold (circa 165 metric tons) and 1,000,000 pounds of silver (circa 331 metric tons) - to finance lavish spectacles in the Circus and the Colosseum. It is quite possible that this splendid aureus was also struck from Dacian gold. The reverse depicts the majestic eagle of Jupiter, emblem of the power and might of the Roman Empire.