Rare sestertius of Emperor Trajan with Pax and TR P number, minted in Rome 103 A.D.

My dream sestertius of Emperor Trajan, minted in Rome 103 A.D. (RIC 455). This denomination, struck in orichalcum, during the principate period, was the basis for everyday transactions of the Romans and one of the main accounting units. The coin fulfills my numismatic dreams of having in my collection a sestertius of my favorite emperor of this quality.

The difficulty of the collector’s challenge is compounded by the fact that although it is a popular denomination the condition of available sestertii often leaves much to be desired due to their circulated nature and substantial size (this specimen has a diameter of 34.3mm and weighs 26.10g), as well as the metal from which the flans were made.

It is worth adding that it was minted exactly between two campaigns of the Dacian Wars, fought by Rome under the Trajan, and the Pax depicted on the reverse perfectly symbolizes the temporary peace that followed the first one. Such precise dating is possible thanks to the extremely rare (in Trajan's imperial coinage) complete information about the renewal of the tribunician power for the seventh time (TR P VII).

Reference : Woytek 155a (13 specimens), RIC 455

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/CzPS-HDL0YJ/

Collection : Marcus Ulpius Traianus - The Optimus Princeps