Jump to content

I Just Received My First 2 Denarii Ever! (Trajan and Hadrian)


jfp7375

Recommended Posts

I just received my first ever Denarii in the mail... these are probably not truly worthy of their own thread, but I figured we should celebrate as these are my first "real" coin purchase (i.e. not cheap lots of late roman bronzes). 

First is a Trajan with Victory holding wreath and palm on the reverse (101-102 AD), second is a Hadrian with Salus lounging and feeding her snake on reverse (119-122 AD) 🙂 

I am extremely excited about the coins. Ordered from Tom Vossen on Vcoins and while his photos were extremely accurate/representative of the coins' true appearance, they look even better in hand. Neither his photos nor mine truly do them justice. The Trajan has just the faintest hint of iridescent toning which doesn't show up in the pics... very cool. 

Pictures and full descriptions below - please let me know what you think!!! 

Not sure why the pictures are so large - my apologies!

spacer.pngspacer.png

Trajan, 98-117 AD. AR Denarius (3.26 gm, 18.5mm). Rome mint. Struck 101/2 AD. Obv.: IMP CAES NERVA TRA-IAN AVG GERM, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Rev.: P M TR P COS IIII P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC II 60; BMCRE 121; RSC 242a.

spacer.png

spacer.png

Hadrian. 117-138 AD. AR Denarius (3.16 gm, 20mm). Rome mint. Struck 119-122 AD. Obv.: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, with drapery on far shoulder. Rev.: P M TR P COS III, Salus seated left, holding patera, feeding snake rising from altar, SALVS AVG in exergue. BMC 207. Cohen 1151. RIC 98. RIC II, Part 3, 231

  • Like 26
  • Big Smile 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Alegandron said:

This was my first Denarius...

I bought it directly from the Rome Mint when they first issued it...  Oh, wait.  My Grandkids think that I am that old...

[IMG]
RR
M Furius LF Philus
AR Denarius
119 BCE
Janus
Trophy Carnyx
Cr 281-1 Sear 156

LOL straight from the Rome Mint... that's some impressive provenance! 

22 minutes ago, ominus1 said:

..thats a great start...fine imperial denarii(your Hadrian is much better than mine) plus you have 2 of the 'good' 5(6) in silver..:)

IMG_0401.JPG

IMG_0402.JPG

Thanks man! That's exactly what my first collecting goal is - denarii of the 5 good emperors. I think this is a great start! Nice coins you have as well

Thanks to everyone else for the kind words as well. Super pleased with the coins. I paid ~$70/each with shipping which is more than I originally wanted to pay, but after shopping around a lot it was clear that I'd get something that could be a really nice piece long-term at that price point, versus a lot of ~$50 denarii where there are more significant flaws (for these emperors at least, which have many coins but are also more desired/popular). Probably would have been a little disappointed with something like that down the road. 

Edited by jfp7375
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember my first denarius of Trajan. Back then I had the bad habit (I still do) of showing just about anyone in range my new coins. At that time I was working at a summer job. I showed my new denarius of Trajan to my boss. He had already been subjected to a number of my coins already however when looking at this coin he said " This looks like real money." I have a soft spot for Trajan ever since. This is not that coin but one that is close.

Trajan Ar Denarius 112-113 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder Rv. Personifcation of the Via Traiana recling left head reverted holding wheel RIC 266 Woytek 398b 3.09grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansentrajand52.thumb.jpg.c8af0870c39008449fb973f1d1153bc4.jpg

I think the reason by boss liked this coin is the abundance of obverse legend and the tight neat lettering  that seems to be a feature of the coins of Trajan during this period. Despite all this information  the coins of Trajan do not offer a lot of information that can be used to precisely date the issue. 

  • Like 14
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@jfp7375....Very nice start!...

Both coins have good detail and I particularly like the toning...You have a good eye...

I would say 15% of my entire collection has come from Tom over the years , a great guy to deal with.....

Here's my Hadrian...

had.jpg.bc80964e5999383084d6e68a7d7de7f8.jpg

Edited by Spaniard
  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Spaniard said:

@jfp7375....Very nice start!...

Both coins have good detail and I particularly like the toning...You have a good eye...

I would say 15% of my entire collection has come from Tom over the years , a great guy to deal with.....

Here's my Hadrian...

had.jpg.bc80964e5999383084d6e68a7d7de7f8.jpg

That's a great compliment, thank you! I spent a ton of time looking for the right coins... glad you agree with my taste! You Hadrian is very nice as well, love the toning

And yes I will definitely buy from Tom again. He has so much great stuff at decent prices, and I received my coins in Chicago only 8 or 9 days after ordering... pretty impressive.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@jfp7375 Very nice coins! Those are a great start. I'm also partial to Trajan coins - not only was he one of Rome's greatest emperors, but his coinage tends to be pretty affordable too.

 

My Trajan and Hadrian denarii also came from Tom Vossen:

20220528_170750.thumb.jpg.8dc5883b706efcdf31cf7e5dfcf8c10c.jpg

20220513_183952.thumb.jpg.13ad20a1afd26f474b5a6775c71f89be.jpg

 

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, CPK said:

@jfp7375 Very nice coins! Those are a great start. I'm also partial to Trajan coins - not only was he one of Rome's greatest emperors, but his coinage tends to be pretty affordable too.

 

My Trajan and Hadrian denarii also came from Tom Vossen:

20220528_170750.thumb.jpg.8dc5883b706efcdf31cf7e5dfcf8c10c.jpg

20220513_183952.thumb.jpg.13ad20a1afd26f474b5a6775c71f89be.jpg

 

Those are two handsome coin, congrats 🧐.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, Furryfrog02 said:

I just realized that my first purchased denarius was also a Trajan...One of my favorite coins of all time. I love the cameo look of the portrait.

690321437_TrajanDenariusGenius.png.0d5a2c64e2221820778b1c19431d2f38.png

I only have one Hadrian. Victory because of course...

747470700_HadrianDenariusPMTRPCOSIIIVictory.png.b8e934057c60899bf016620919ad1192.png

Wow - you weren't kidding. I'm in love with that Trajan portrait. Looks so dramatic and lifelike with toning providing some shading. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, jfp7375 said:

Wow - you weren't kidding. I'm in love with that Trajan portrait. Looks so dramatic and lifelike with toning providing some shading. 

The thing that kills me, I paid like $35 for it a few years ago. I doubt I could touch it for anywhere near that now. I'm glad to have it though.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Benefactor

Congratulations! I now have more than 20 Hadrians and about 15 Trajans, but your coins certainly compare very favorably to the first I bought for each, around 15-20 years ago -- well before I was actively collecting ancient coins. Neither of them had particularly unusual or interesting reverses, but I bought them because I liked the portraits.  I remember being very happy to have them. And still am!

Hadrian AR Denarius 137-Jul. 138 AD.  Obv. Bare head right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P/ Rev. Four grain ears in modius with one poppy in middle, ANNO-NA AVG. RIC II.3 2318 & Pl. 41 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 230 (1926 ed.), RSC II 172. 18 mm., 3.2 g.

image.thumb.jpeg.4280d9db56abe392c3a3c98063f24cdf.jpeg

Trajan AR Denarius, 112 AD or later, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped bust right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC/ Rev. Fortuna seated left on throne with rudder & cornucopiae, P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR (FORT • RED in exergue). RIC II 318, RSC II 154, BMCRE 578, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 884 (ill.) [not in Millennium Edition]. 18.9 mm., 3.11 g.

image.thumb.jpeg.1a51f624548605295c191a677bdbe816.jpeg

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Congratulations! I now have more than 20 Hadrians and about 15 Trajans, but your coins certainly compare very favorably to the first I bought for each, around 15-20 years ago -- well before I was actively collecting ancient coins. Neither of them had particularly unusual or interesting reverses, but I bought them because I liked the portraits.  I remember being very happy to have them. And still am!

Hadrian AR Denarius 137-Jul. 138 AD.  Obv. Bare head right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P/ Rev. Four grain ears in modius with one poppy in middle, ANNO-NA AVG. RIC II.3 2318 & Pl. 41 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 230 (1926 ed.), RSC II 172. 18 mm., 3.2 g.

image.thumb.jpeg.4280d9db56abe392c3a3c98063f24cdf.jpeg

Trajan AR Denarius, 112 AD or later, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped bust right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC/ Rev. Fortuna seated left on throne with rudder & cornucopiae, P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR (FORT • RED in exergue). RIC II 318, RSC II 154, BMCRE 578, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 884 (ill.) [not in Millennium Edition]. 18.9 mm., 3.11 g.

image.thumb.jpeg.1a51f624548605295c191a677bdbe816.jpeg

Great coins @DonnaML - I don't agree that mine outshine at all. I totally see what you mean about your emphasis on the portraits - both have fantastic detail... the Trajan is very august/regal with the laurel and flowing headband, and the Hadrian is a very, very classic looking Hadrian portrait. I love my Hadrian as well but it's one of his earlier mints and he looks a bit thinner and idealized - yours looks just like his famous busts and statues.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Congratulations!!!  You're hooked now😛

Here's an old-toned Trajan, that was among my first denarii.

(20)Trajan.jpg.f4767e6584d751557588e759950bc970.jpg

Trajan. (AD 98-117). AR Denarius. (19mm, 3.00g). Rome mint.

Struck (AD 108-109).

O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P; Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder.

R: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC; Roma seated left, holding Victory and spear.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...