Roman Coins in Reverse - a Chronological Gallery

[Octavius]

Nerva, maybe not be "top shelf" in popularity, but a good emperor nonetheless.

 1. Denarius with SALVS seated

 

2. denarius with priestly implements; PATER PATRIAE...

 

3. sestertius with Fortuna reverse...

 

4. dupondius with clasped hands and Roman Eagle standard reverse....

Edited August 7, 2023 by Octavius

[Limes]

Some coins of nerva show interesting reverses, which signify the cancellation of impopular measures of Domitian, by the new regime. One of these is shown on my coin below. 

[CPK]

4 hours ago, Limes said:

Some coins of nerva show interesting reverses, which signify the cancellation of impopular measures of Domitian, by the new regime. One of these is shown on my coin below. 

Fascinating type! Thanks for posting! 👍

[Troyden]

Nerva, circa 97 AD, Rome mint, weight 3,22 g, diameter circa 17 mm, catalogue: RIC 7

[Limes]

7 hours ago, CPK said:

Fascinating type! Thanks for posting! 👍

Thanks! There are some more interesting Nerva bronzes: the 'fisci Ivdaici' sestertius and the 'frumento constituto' sesterius. They are all quite rare/scarce, but, I think, the most interesting issues of Nerva. 

[Edessa]

Roman Syria. Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Nerva. AD 96-98. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.09g, 12h). Dated “New Holy Year” 1 (AD 96/7). Obv: Laureate bust right, wearing aegis. Rev: Eagle standing facing on thunderbolt, head right, with wings spread; palm to left. Ref: McAlee 419; Prieur 149. Good Very Fine, very minor obverse die shift. Ex CNG e244 (10 Nov 2010), Lot 344. Ex Goldberg Pre-Long Beach (30 Jun 2022), Lot 2319. 

This guy's portraits do look real. 

[Octavius]

16 hours ago, Limes said:

Some coins of nerva show interesting reverses, which signify the cancellation of impopular measures of Domitian, by the new regime. One of these is shown on my coin below. 

 That is one iconic coin!

[kapphnwn]

Nerva Ar denarius. Onv Head right laureate Rv Fortuna standing left holding scales and cornucopia RIC 44 3.64 grms 17 mm Photo by W. Hansen 

Nerva has his normal glum look, though the eye gives him a Rodney Dangerfield vibe 

[lrbguy]

I knew that my coins of Nerva were few, (only turned up two this time around) and then found out that one of those which was sold as a coin of Nerva actually belongs to Trajan.  So, for the time being, here is my one and only for Nerva - and as you will see, even it is questionable!!

 

96 AD

Nerva  96 AD
BMCRE (ref Cohen 76)    denarius of Rome   3.27g

Laureate head to right
IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II PP

Fortuna seated left, holding 2 ears of wheat (in R) and scepter (in L)
left: FORTVNA [ascending)   right: PR (descending)

BMCRE only lists an aureus with this combination of obverse inscription and reverse type, but references Cohen and notes that a denarius of this type had been donated to the Museum in 1823 by King George III.  In his discussion of the type (pp. xxxvii-xxxviii) Mattingly makes no mention of the decision not to give its occurrence on silver a listing.  Nonetheless, due to the aureus no doubt, it is foot-noted among the coins of the first issue in 96 AD.  

 

[Al Kowsky]

Phoenicia, Tyre. Trajan, AD 98-117 (struck Year 18, AD AD 113/4). AR Tetradrachm: 14.18, 27 mm, 6 h. Obverse: Trajan laureate, eagle below, club in left field. Reverse: Laureate head of Melqart-Hercules. McAlee 463; Prieur 1518.  AWK Collection.

[Qcumbor]

Not the most beautiful reverse, yet certainly the weirdest with this Trajanesque portrait of Tyche :

Trajan, Bronze - Laodicea ad Mare, c114-115 CE
ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΡΙϹΤ ΚΑΙϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΔΑΚ ΠΑΡ, laureate head of Trajan right with drapery on left shoulder
ΙΟΥΛΙΕⲰΝ ΤⲰΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕⲰΝ ΒΞΡ, Turreted bust of Tyche right, IOY in right field
9.97 gr
Ref : RPC vol III # 3796, Sear #1080

Q

[expat]

Even though it is the obverse that gives it a variety listing, the reverse is a joy to behold for me. Centered and with clear image and legend.

 

 

[Al Kowsky]

I sold this coin at auction almost 6 years ago, the portrait is extraordinary. Prieur listed this coin as coming from the Tyre Mint, & McAlee listed it as coming from the Antioch Mint. I personally think it's an Antioch product.

[kapphnwn]

Trajan Ar Denarius  107-108 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder. Rv River god Danube reclining left head right, RIC 100 Woytek 277b 3.47 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin is part of the series celebrating the victory over the Dacians, 

Edited August 9, 2023 by kapphnwn

[CPK]

Ah, now the variety of reverse types kicks into high gear!👍

Of course, my favorite must go to this one, about which I've posted numerous times:

This is also an interesting one - and a somewhat scarce type which I was happy to be able to purchase for a small sum:

 

 

And another:

 

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by CPK
added photos

[Octavius]

 Selection of Coins of Trajan....

1. Sestertius with Salus feeding serpent on altar....

 

2. Sestertius with reverse of bridge over the Danube river....

 

3. sestertius with reverse commemorating the victory over Dacia...

 

4. dupondius with reverse of Dacia , defeated, sitting on pile of shields ; trophy...

 

5. dupondius with reverse of Roma holding victory in her hand....

 

6. dupondius with reverse of Roman cavalryman spearing fallen Dacian...

 

7. denarius with reverse of Pax holing olive branch and cornucopia ....

 

8. sestertius with Abundandtia with cornucopia holding hand of small child ALIM ITAL commemorating the abundant food supply to Italy...

Edited August 9, 2023 by Octavius

[Al Kowsky]

41 minutes ago, Octavius said:

 Selection of Coins of Trajan....

1. Sestertius with Salus feeding serpent on altar....

 

2. Sestertius with reverse of bridge over the Danube river....

 

3. sestertius with reverse commemorating the victory over Dacia...

 

4. dupondius with reverse of Dacia , defeated, sitting on pile of shields ; trophy...

 

5. dupondius with reverse of Roma holding victory in her hand....

 

6. dupondius with reverse of Roman cavalryman spearing fallen Dacian...

 

7. denarius with reverse of Pax holing olive branch and cornucopia ....

 

8. sestertius with Abundandtia with cornucopia holding hand of small child ALIM ITAL commemorating the abundant food supply to Italy...

Wonderful group of coins 🤩! Trajan was a very successful emperor for almost 20 years, & many of his accomplishments are depicted on coins like yours.

[Limes]

When it comes to Trajan, there are so many interesting reverses. My favorites in my collection are these: 

Perhaps his most interesting reverse? Still standing today. Not only a beautiful artwork, but and its an important historical document too.

A more rare reverse. Its like a comic book in stone.

I love the set up of the reverse figures. Trajan is huge, dominating the submissive regions, in the personification of local gods/figure, a beautiful picture boosting his conquests. According to Hill, the reverse was a statue at some point in history. 

[ambr0zie]

Trajan, probably the most successful Roman emperor. Known for his philanthropy and preoccupied with the welfare of the Roman people, but also responsible for the largest territorial expansion in the entire history of the Roman Empire. 

Not a lot to be added on top of this. 

The long reign + the economic boom + large number of conquests, that were celebrated on coins, make Trajan's coinage abundant, variate and affordable. A perfect combination. 

Fun fact - before I started studying and collecting ancient coins, I was under the impression they are rare and very expensive. Not sure why. My dream was to own a Trajan coin - especially a denarius. I thought this is way out of my reach. I was surprised to see Trajan coins, like many other ancient coins, can be affordable. 

Trajan reverses - a lot to pick from (another big plus to collect Trajan). My favorite Trajan theme is of course Dacia and Dacian wars (I include in this category the Trajan column denarii types)

 

Another reverse I really wanted - Arabia with camel 

A very determined she wolf reverse on a quadrans

Trajan's provincial coinage is also interesting - I like this Seleucia Piera reverse with the sacred stone of Zeus Kasios and the Caesarea silver coinage - on my coin the reverse character should be Hera although many sources indicate it is Artemis. 

[lrbguy]

To one who does not spend much time among the "Adoptive emperors" some rather surprising pieces have been shown here.  Most impressive. Until I understood the "why" of it, I must confess that attributing the coins of Trajan proved every bit as challenging as those of Domitian.  But there is a key to the chronology.

Harold Mattingly arranged the coins for the British Museum catalog of the coins of Trajan. In that he tells us the basis for his chronology: "The foundation of our dating is the consulships of Trajan, which, fortunately for us, are mentioned on almost all his coins. Trajan had held his first consulship before his adoption by Nerva. "

He was COS II in 98 AD, COS III in 100, COS IV in 101, COS V in 103, COS VI in 112.

Within the consulships they are sometimes divided into groups based on the typology and legends used. 

Here are a half dozen examples, selected for the range of their typology.

 

Trajan    98-99 AD
BMCRE 25   denarius of Rome    2.50g

Laureate head r.
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM

Vesta, not veiled, draped, seated L on seat without back,     holds patera in extended R hand, and torch sloping upward in L
PM TRP COS.II.P.P

 

 

Trajan    101-102
BMCRE 115   denarius of Rome    3.05g

Laureate, head r
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM

Victory, naked to waist, standg front and head to L; holding up wreath in R hand and palm, sloping up, in L.
PM TRP COS IIII PP

 

 

Trajan    103-111  Group IV
BMCRE 173   denarius of Rome    3.25g

Laureate, head r with slight drapery on far shoulder front (BMCRE type b)
IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM [TR.P COS V PP]      (Cohen type K)

Annona, draped, wearing wreath of corn ears, standing L holding corn ears in R hand downward over modius from which corn ears protrude, and in L hand holds cornucopiae; below to R, prow of a ship.
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI (clockwise from lower left)

 

 

Trajan    103-112  Group V
BMCRE 306   denarius of Rome    2.68g

Laureate, head r with slight drapery on far shoulder front (BMCRE type b)
IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP

Fortuna, draped, standing L, holding rudder in front of forepart of ship in R hand and cornucopiae in L
COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC

 

 

Trajan    112-117   Group V   
BMCRE 599   denarius of Rome    3.36g

bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, r. (obverse type b)
IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC PARTHICO

Pax draped, standing L holding up branch in R hand and cornucopiae in L
PM TRP C OS  VI PP S P Q R

 

 

Trajan    112-117 Group VI   
BMCRE 626   denarius of Rome    3.25g

bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, r. (obverse type d)
IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC  

Felicitas, draped stg L holding cad
PARTHICO PM TRP COS VI PP SPQR

 

Let us not forget the ladies in Trajan's life. Unfortunately I cannot show you his wife, Plotina, but I can show you his sister and his niece.  Of the latter, her greater significance is revealed during the reign of Trajan's successor to the Imperial throne.

Marciana    113 AD
late sister of Trajan
BMCRE T654    Denarius of Rome    3.24g.

draped bust right (elaborate hair arrangement)
DIVA AVGVSTA  -  MARCIANA

Carpentum drawn by two mules; top ornamented with fleurettes, the side with two wreaths
CONSECRATIO

 

 

Matidia AD 115-117 (or later)
Daughter of Marciana; mother-in-law to Hadrian
BMCRE T661    Denarius of Rome    3.12g.

draped bust right (elaborate hair arrangement)
MATIDIA AVG DIVAE - MARCIANAE F

Matidia as Pietas standing holding hands with Sabina and Matidia Minor
left: PIETAS [up]    right: AVGVST [down]

 

[DonnaML]

Back home from my visit to Toronto, and -- with apologies for my lateness -- catching up with my favorite reverses of Domitian and Nerva. I'll be back later with some favorite reverses from among my > 20 Imperial and Provincial coins of Trajan.

Domitian Caesar (son of Vespasian), AR Denarius 76 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, bearded, CAESAR AVG F • DOMITIANVS (Counter-clockwise beginning at 5:00) / Rev. Pegasus stepping right with left foreleg raised, wings curling to right, COS IIII above (with line above IIII to signify numerals) [Domitian COS IIII = AD 76; see table at Sear RCV I p. 308]. 19 mm., 3.43 g. RIC II.1 Vespasian 921 (2007 ed.), old RIC II 238 (1926 ed.), RSC II 47, Sear RCV I 2637 (ill. p. 485), BMCRE 193. Purchased from cgb.fr, March 2022.*

*See Sear RCV I 2637 at p. 485 fn.: “The reverse type is copied from the coinage of Augustus (see [RCV I] no. 1629).”

For this one, let's pretend that the rhinoceros is on the reverse!

Domitian (son of Vespasian), AE Quadrans [1/4 As] 84-85 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. African Rhinoceros with two horns advancing right with head down/ Rev IMP DOMIT AVG GERM (clockwise around starting at 1:00), S C across. RIC II-1 Domitian 249 (2007 ed.), Sear RCV II 2834, Cohen 673. (Legend starting at 1:00 rather than 7:00 is rarer variety, with only 4 examples at OCRE -- none at British Museum; see http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2_1(2).dom.249 -- and 8 at acsearch.)  16.5 mm., 2.56 g. [Issued after Domitian’s assumption of Germanicus title in late 83 AD, but before the Consular date XI was added to his quadrantes in 85. It was possibly distributed as a token and/or souvenir to the crowds at the Colosseum, which Domitian completed in 82 by adding its uppermost story. See Martial’s  Liber De Spectaculis (http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/martial_on_the_games_of_domitian_01_text.htm) re exhibition of rhinoceros at Colosseum, and re practice of distributing tokens to crowd. See also T.V. Buttrey, “Domitian, the Rhinoceros, and the Date of Martial's ‘Liber De Spectaculis,’" The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 97 (2007), pp. 101-112, at https://www.jstor.org/stable/20430573?seq=1.]

Domitian and Domitia, AE 22.7, 93/94 AD, Cilicia, Anazarbus. Obv. Laureate head of Domitian to right, AYTO KAI ΘΕ YI ΔOMITIANOC CE ΓEP around from upper right / Rev. Draped bust of Domitia left, date IB P (= Year 112, = 93/94 AD)* across fields, star behind head, KAICAPEΩN ΔOMETIA CEBACTH around from lower left. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. II 1749; RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1749 ; SNG Levante 1367 [Levante, E., Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Switzerland I, Levante-Cilicia (Zurich, 1986)] (see https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=40245); BMC Vol. 21 Lycaonia, Anazarbus 9 p. 32 [Hill, G.F., A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Greek Coins of Lycaonia, Isauria, and Cilicia (London, 1900)]. 22.7 mm., 10.09 g.  (Purchased from Zuzim Inc, Brooklyn, NY Jan. 2021; exported from Israel 2016 pursuant to IAA [Israel Antiquities Authority] Export License No. 531619, April 17, 2016.) (Double die-match to RPC II 1749, specimen no. 16; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1749.)

*Year 1 of era was 19 BCE, date of founding of Anazarbus after visit of Augustus.

Nerva AR Denarius, Rome Jan-Sep 97 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TRP COS III P P / Rev. Two clasped hands in front of legionary eagle left at top of standard resting on prow left, CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM. RIC II Nerva 15, RSC II (Cohen) 29, BMCRE III Nerva 29, cf. Sear RCV II 3021 (COS II, otherwise same). 18 mm., 3.37 g. Purchased from Patrick Guillard Collection, Paris, France, May 2021.

[expat]

14 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Back home from my visit to Toronto,

Welcome Back. Returning with some great examples.

 

[DonnaML]

First, some Trajan Provincial coins with reverses I particularly like:

Trajan AR Drachm, AD 98/99, Koinon of Lycia. Obv. Laureate head of Trajan right, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓƐΡΜ / Rev. Two lyres with owl perched on top of them, standing to right, ΔΗΜ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ • Β [COS II]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 2676 (2015); RPC III Online 2676 at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/2676; SNG von Aulock 4268 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin, 1962)]; BMC 19 Lycia 9-11 at p. 39 (ill. Pl. IX No. 11) [Hill, G.F., A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia (London, 1897)]. Purchased Jan. 6, 2022 at Roma Numismatics E-Sale 93, Lot 717. 18 mm., 2.87 g., 6 h. 

Trajan AR Tetradrachm, AD 100, Phoenicia, Tyre. Obv. Laureate head of Trajan right; behind, ear of grain in left field; to right, club in right field; below, eagle with folded wings standing right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ / Rev. Laureate bust of Melqart (as Herakles) right, lion’s skin tied at neck, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Γ [= COS III]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 3526 (2015); RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3526; Prieur 1482 [Prieur, Michel and Karin, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)]; McAlee 452/2 (ill. p. 203; portraits appear to be a die match) (Group 5) [McAlee, Richard, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007), ascribing Melqart types to Tyre or Rome]. 27 mm., 14.25 g. 

Trajan, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 15 (111/112 AD), Aexandria, Egypt mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ Ϲ - ƐΒ  ΓƐΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ / Rev. Serpent Agathodaemon standing erect right, crowned with pschent/skhent [the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt] , with coils enfolding caduceus upright to left and stalk of corn to right; L - IƐ (Year 15) across fields. 24x22 mm., 12.25 g. RPC III 4586 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/4586)  [see also RPC 4646 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/4646) (same type?)], Emmett 369.15, Milne 649-650 at p. 19, BMC 16 Alexandria 391 at p. 47, Köln (Geissen) 569-572, Dattari (Savio) 700-701. Ex Economopoulos Numismatics, Holicong PA, Oct. 2021 (Nick Economopoulos, formerly of Pegasi Numismatics).  

Trajan, AE Drachm, Year 15 (111/112 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, nude and with aegis on left shoulder, ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ϹЄΒ ΓЄΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ / Rev. Emperor (Trajan), laureate and togate, standing in elephant quadriga, right. holding eagle-tipped sceptre and branch; first three elephants with trunks turned down at end and fourth elephant with trunk turned up; in exergue, L IƐ (Year 15).  RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 4605.4 (2015); RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/4605.4 ; Emmett 462.15 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Dattari (Savio) 769 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 512 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; Milne 669 at p. 19 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]. 33.5 mm., 21.26 g. Purchased from Odysseus- Numismatique, Montpellier, France, June 2021.

Trajan AR Tetradrachm, 112 AD, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, club below to left and eagle (standing right) below to right, AYTOKP KAIC NER TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK / Rev. Tyche of Antioch, wearing mural crown, seated on rocks, right, holding two ears of wheat and a poppy-head in her right hand, river god Orontes at her feet in river swimming right, looking up at Tyche, left arm extended and left forefinger pointed, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΙϚ ΥΠΑΤ Ϛ [= TR POT XVI, COS VI]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 3543 (2015); RPC III Online 3543 at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3543, McAlee 471 (ill. p. 205) (Group 6) [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)]; Prieur 1499 [Michel and Karin Prieur, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)]; Sear GIC 1089 at p. 100 (ill.), attributed to Tyre [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (1982)]. 25 mm., 13.88 g.

Trajan AR Drachm, 115-Feb. 116 AD [before granting of Parthia title], Arabia Bostra (or Rome*) Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan right, with paludamentum, seen from rear, AYTOKP KAIC NЄP TPAIANѠ APICTѠ CƐB ΓƐPM ΔAK [equivalent of IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC] / Rev. Bactrian (two-humped) camel, walking left, ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATO ς [equivalent of TR P COS VI (sixth consulship)]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 4076 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/4076, SNG ANS VI 1158; Sydenham 205 [E. Sydenham, The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia (1933 & 1978 Supp. by A.G. Malloy)]; BMC 20 Cappadocia 65-66 at p. 54 & Pl. IX No. 16 [Wroth, Warwick, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria (London, 1899)]. 19 mm., 3.10 g.  Purchased from Kenneth W. Dorney. (Coin is double die match to Roma Numismatics Auction, May 21, 2013, Lot 767 [https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=474&lot=767]; image of that coin is reproduced as Plate 14, No. 7 in Woytek & Butcher article cited in note below.)

* See Bernhard E. Woytek and Kevin Butcher, "The Camel Drachms of Trajan in Context: Old Problems and a New Overstrike," The Numismatic Chronicle Vol. 175 (2015), pp. 117-136 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43859784) (dies engraved and coins possibly struck in Rome for provincial use).
 

[Edessa]

Trajan, AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 24.80g, 7h). Rome mint, AD 111. Obv: IMP C[AES NER]VAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P; Bust right with laurel wreath and light drapery on left shoulder. Rev: S P Q R [OPTI]MO PRINCIPI; Arabia standing facing, head left, holding branch with bundle of cinnamon sticks to left, forepart of camel standing left; S-C across fields, ARAB•ADQVIS in exergue. Ref: RIC 466; C. 32; Strack 409. Fine, nice brown patina, moderate wear. Lifted from a Leu auction note on this issue: "The reverse...refers to Trajan's annexation of Arabia after the death of the Nabataean king, Rabbel II, in 106. In doing so, he secured the Romans' flank in case of a conflict with Parthia, which would erupt several years later, while also providing easier access to Arabia's trade in incense and spices."

[DonnaML]

Now, my favorite reverses among my Trajan Imperial coins. First and earliest, the Scarecrow of Dacia:

Trajan AR Denarius, 106 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right; IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TRP COS V P P / Rev. Captive Dacian in peaked cap with wide brim, seated right on shield in mournful attitude with left elbow on raised left knee, and face resting in left hand; below, curved Dacian sword (falx) right; SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. RIC II 219 (http://numismatics.org/ocre/results?q=RIC+II+Trajan+219); RSC II 529; Sear RCV II 3168 (obv. var.); BMCRE 175 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-11584). 17 mm., 3.02 g., 6 h.

The rest:

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 107 [Sear RCV II], Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Rev. Danuvius (the Danube), naked to waist, reclining with left elbow on rocks amidst reeds, looking right, cloak billowing out in circle behind head, right hand resting on ship behind him with prow in shape of bird’s head (swan?), COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC; in exergue, DANVVIVS. RIC II Trajan 100, RSC II 136 (ill. p. 88), Sear RCV II 3138 (ill. p. 102), BMCRE III 395. 19 mm., 3.05 g. Purchased from Silbury Coins, UK, Jan. 2022.*

*According to Foss at p. 100 [Clive Foss, Roman Historical Coins (Seaby, London, 1990)], this coin (Foss, Trajan No. 22), together with two other types (RIC II 542-544 and RIC 556-569), commemorate the preparations for the second Dacian war in AD 106, including “crossing into Dacia by a bridge and with the aid of the god of the Danube who helped to overcome Dacia.” 

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 107-108, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Emperor standing in triumphal quadriga to right (decorated with image of Trajan standing left erecting trophy to right), holding branch with right hand extended and eagle-tipped scepter with left hand, COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC. RIC II 139 corr. (bust type); BMCRE III Trajan 349 at p. 78; RSC II 94; Sear RCV II 3131. Purchased Jan. 6, 2022 at Roma Numismatics E-Sale 93, Lot 974. 19 mm., 3.03 g., 6h.

Trajan AR denarius, AD 108-109, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Rev. Dacian captive, wearing cloak and peaked cap, seated left on pile of arms in attitude of mourning; right elbow resting on raised right knee, and face resting on right hand; about him, two curved swords in front, two spears and an oblong shield behind; COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC around; in exergue, DAC CAP. RIC II 98; RSC II Trajan 120(a) (rev. ill. p. 87); see also Foss (Trajan No. 286(b) at p. 101). Black patina. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, Jan. 2022, NYINC 2022. 19 mm., 3.05 g.

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 108-109, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP / Rev. Dacian captive, wearing peaked cap, standing left with hands bound in front of pile of arms, including round shield to right, and, to left, two curved swords, two spears, and an oblong shield; COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC around; in exergue, DAC CAP. RIC II 99, RSC II Trajan 121 (ill. p. 87), Sear RCV II 3137 (ill. p. 101). 3.04 g. Purchased from Emporium Hamburg, Auction 100, 15 Nov. 2022, Lot 356.

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 108-110*, Rome mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, drapery over left shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Rev. Arabia standing left wearing long hooded cloak, holding out branch of myrrh or frankincense with extended right hand and bundle of canes or cinnamon sticks (or calamus odoratus; see fn.) with left hand; at her feet to left, an Arabian (one-humped) camel walking left, all four legs showing, COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC. RIC II 142, RSC II 89 (ill p. 86). 19 mm., 3.40 g.

*Trajan’s fifth consulship ran from 103-111 AD, but Arabia was not annexed by Rome until 106 AD after the reign of the Nabataean king Rabel II ended. See Bernhard E. Woytek and Kevin Butcher, "The Camel Drachms of Trajan in Context: Old Problems and a New Overstrike," The Numismatic Chronicle Vol. 175 (2015), pp. 117-136 at p. 117. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43859784). The article narrows down the date of this type further at p. 118:

“The reverse design of the imperial coins celebrating the annexation of Arabia differs markedly from the iconography of the Dacia capta coinage, in a structural respect. While the latter shows bound captives or the mourning Dacia as well as heaps of arms, the image of Arabia is a peaceful one: she is depicted standing to the left, holding a branch of a local plant, probably of the myrrh- or frankincense-tree, in the right hand and a bundle of calamus odoratus [a/k/a acorus odoratus; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorus_calamus] in her left arm. Her attributes, local products widely known and used in the Roman world, convey a notion of the cultural and economic importance of the newly acquired territory. But the coins also
depict the region’s iconic animal: to the left of the personification, there is a one humped Arabian camel. This depiction of Arabia and a camel not only occurs on imperial coins displaying some abbreviated form of the legend Arabia adquisita in the exergue, but also on Trajanic aureus and denarius types where the personification is unlabelled. The type seems to have been introduced on these unlabelled issues, which may broadly be dated to the years AD 108‒110, while the coins displaying an explanatory legend in the exergue were issued by the mint of Rome from about AD 111 to 112/113. [In the earlier issues] . . .  the entire camel is to be seen to the left of
the personification of the new province . . ., while later the animal is always partly hidden behind Arabia, and only its forepart (and the two forelegs) are visible.”

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 113, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right with light drapery on far shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI PP / Rev. Female figure personifying the Via Traiana, nude above waist, reclining right (from viewer’s perspective) on rock outcropping, head turned to right; supporting wheel set on knee with right hand, and holding branch with left hand,  S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI; in exergue, VIA TRAIANA. RIC II 266, RSC II 648 (ill. p. 102), BMCRE III 487, Sear RCV II 3173 (ill. p. 105). 18 mm., 3.48 g., 6 h. Purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, LLC (CNG) E-Auction 531, Jan. 26, 2023.*

*This issue “records the construction in AD 109 of the Via Traiana, an important highway which replaced the Via Appia as the preferred route between Beneventum [in Campania]  and the port city of Brundisium on the Atlantic coast.” Sear RCV II, p. 106.

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 113-114, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, seen from three-quarters behind; IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI PP / Rev. Trajan’s column, with spiral bands enclosing large dots on face, placed on decorated base with door in center, flanked by two eagles with beaks facing inwards, and surmounted by statue of Trajan standing facing, holding long scepter in left hand [right arm not visible]; SPQR OPTI-MO PRINCIPI. 17.5 mm., 3.06 g., 6 h. RIC II Trajan 293, RSC II Trajan 558 (laureate bust draped but rev. var.: OPTIMO rather than OPTI-MO), BMCRE III Trajan 455 & Pl. 17 No. 2 (laureate bust draped, OPTI-MO); Sear RCV 891 (3rd ed. 1981) [not in Millennium Edition]. Purchased from cgb.fr Internet Auction, 26 April 2022, Lot 95.

Trajan AR Denarius, ca. AD 114, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, IMP TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Rev. Mars, helmeted, naked but for cloak behind, advancing right, holding transverse spear, pointing up to right, with right hand and trophy over left shoulder with left hand, COS VI P P S P Q R. RIC II Trajan 299, RSC II Trajan 103, BMCRE III Trajan 516. Purchased Jan. 6, 2022 from Herakles Numismatics at NYINC 2022. 20 mm., 3.41 g. 

Trajan, AE Semis (or Quadrans), ca. AD 107 (Sear), Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust of Trajan right with slight drapery on far shoulder; IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG / Rev. She-wolf crouching left, SC in exergue. 16 mm., 2.70 g., 7 h. RIC II Trajan 694, BMCRE II Trajan 1061, Sear RCV II 3246 (ill. p. 117), Cohen 340.  Purchased from London Ancient Coins, Aug. 2022.