Denarius of Trajan, "OPTIMO PRINCIPI"

Inscriptions

Obverse: Bust of Trajan, facing right, laureate, with drapery over the left shoulder. Border of dots. Legend: IMP(erator) TRAIANO AVG(ustus) GER(manicus) DAC(icus) P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunicia) P(otestas) CO(n)S(ul)VI P(ater) P(atriae) ( Emperor Trajan Augustus Germanicus Dacicus, Pontifex Maximus, endowed with power of the Tribune, consul for the sixth time, Father of his Country), clockwise from six o’clock. Reverse: Mars, advancing right, wearing a helmet, carrying a long spear in his right hand and balancing a trophy on his left shoulder. Border of dots. Legend: S(enatus)P(opulus)Q(ue)R(omanus) OPTIMO PRINCIPI (the Senate and the Roman people, for the best Princeps) clockwise from seven o’clock.

Course History

CLST 18, HIST 94.6, History of the Roman Empire, Roberta Stewart, Winter 2012

Exhibition History

Investigations into the Ancient Mediterranean, Harrington Gallery Teaching Exhibition, Yale University Collection-Sharing Initiative, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, May 5-June 24, 2012.

Publication History

IMPERIUM ROMANUM IN NUMMIS, The Roman Empire in and on Its Coinage, a booklet with entries created by Dartmouth students and Professor Roberta Stewart, Spring 2012, no. 4, Jasper Hicks, Class of 2012.

Provenance

Harold C. Craig, Lebanon, New Hampshire; sold to present collection, 1963.

Catalogue Raisonne

RIC, Trajan no. 269-270; BMC, Vol. III: no. 415

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