Trajan, 98-117. Semis (Orichalcum, 19 mm, 3.53 g, 6 h), Dardanian mines issue, Rome, circa 99-102. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM Laureate head of Trajan to right. Rev. DARDANICI Female figure (Dardania?) standing front, head to left, holding branch in her right hand. BMC 1106. Cohen 138. RIC 703. Woytek 608a. An unusually attractive example of this interesting issue. Somewhat smoothed and with a filled corrosion spot on the neck, otherwise, good very fine.


During the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian, semisses and quadrantes were struck to commemorate the imperial mines in the Balkan region. These mines supplied metal for coinage production in Rome. The reverse of this coin refers specifically to the mines in Dardania (Moesia) and shows a female figure holding a branch, probably intended as the personification of Dardania herself.