COINS · TIMELINE · REFERENCES
COIN LEGEND BREAKDOWN
TRAJAN
DENARIUS · AD 114–115 · ROME
Weight
3.19g
Metal
SILVER
Diameter
20mm
RIC
356
BMC
565
Reign
98–117 AD
O B V E R S E
IMP · CAES · NER · TRAIANO · OPTIMO · AVG · GER · DAC Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of Trajan facing right
IMP CAES NER TRAIANO
OPTIMO AVG GER DAC
"IMPERATOR CAESAR NERVA TRAJAN, THE BEST, AUGUSTUS, CONQUEROR OF GERMANY AND DACIA"
R E V E R S E
P · M · TR · P · COS · VI · P · P · S · P · Q · R Reverse: Trajan's Column with statue and eagles
P M TR P COS VI P P
S P Q R
"CHIEF PRIEST, HOLDER OF TRIBUNICIAN POWER, CONSUL FOR THE SIXTH TIME, FATHER OF THE FATHERLAND — THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF ROME"

Obverse Legend

IMP Imperator — Supreme military commander
CAES Caesar — Imperial dynastic title
NER Nerva — Adopted name from his predecessor, Emperor Nerva
TRAIANO Trajan — the emperor's personal name
OPTIMO Optimus — "The Best" — a unique honour granted by the Senate
AVG Augustus — "The Revered One"
GER Germanicus — Conqueror of the Germans
DAC Dacicus — Conqueror of Dacia (modern Romania)

Reverse Legend

P M Pontifex Maximus — Chief priest of Roman religion
TR P Tribunicia Potestas — Holder of tribunician power
COS VI Consul VI — Consul for the sixth time (helps date the coin)
P P Pater Patriae — Father of the Fatherland
S P Q R Senatus Populusque Romanus — "The Senate and People of Rome"

Reverse Image

Trajan's Column — the famous 30-metre victory monument, still standing in Rome today. Dedicated c. AD 113 to celebrate the Dacian Wars. Surmounted with a statue of the emperor; base ornamented by two eagles and bas-reliefs on the pedestal.