Trajan denarius with tropaeum and rare bust variant

Rare bust variant with a beautiful Gorgon head (aegis). Maybe that's not high-grade specimen but it's still an interesting piece and history to share. This Trajan's AR denarius, with dedicatory Dativus, was struck after 2nd of his Dacian campaigns ca. 107 AD (via prof. Woytek). One might even joke that the abrasions of the Emperor's portrait are not coin damage, but war scars.

On the reverse, you can see Tropaeum - the trophy of arms with helmet, chain mail, and round shield on the left, two hexagonal shields crossed on right, oval and hexagonal shield below with swords and spears.

Référence : Woytek MIR 231 c (3 specimens), RIC II Trajan 226

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTfBa3Kq8k/...

Collection : Marcus Ulpius Traianus - The Optimus Princeps