Trajan Provincial Bronze — SC in Wreath

The Story

Trajan earned the titles GERMANICUS and DACICUS through successful military campaigns. His conquest of Dacia brought enormous wealth to Rome, including gold from Dacian mines. He built Trajan's Column in Rome, which still stands today, depicting his Dacian Wars in incredible detail. Trajan died in AD 117 while returning from his eastern campaigns. He was deified by the Senate and his ashes were placed in the base of his column — the only person ever buried within Rome's sacred boundary (pomerium).

Historical Context

Roman Empire at its greatest territorial extent

• •AD 101-106 — Trajan's Dacian Wars, conquest of Dacia (modern Romania)
• •AD 113-117 — Trajan's Parthian War, Roman Empire reaches maximum extent
• •Construction of Trajan's Column and Trajan's Forum in Rome
• •Empire stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)

Trajan's reign represents the absolute zenith of Roman power. He was so respected that subsequent emperors were wished to be 'more fortunate than Augustus and better than Trajan.'

Symbolism

Design

What Could This Buy?

Bronze coinage from Antioch circulated throughout Syria and the eastern provinces as everyday money. These coins handled small transactions — bread, wine, vegetables, ferry tolls, and minor services.

Worth Knowing

• ◈Trajan is one of only two emperors officially titled 'Optimus' (the best)
• ◈His column survives in Rome and depicts over 2,500 individual figures
• ◈Antioch was where followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians'

Origin

Details