Ancient Empires
TRAJAN
Roman Empire
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
ANCIENT - ROMAN EMPIRE (1st CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ROMAN EMPIRE Trajan, AD 98-117 |
| Item Description: |
AR Denarius rv Genius/Bonus Eventus |
| Full Grade: |
NGC AU Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5 |
| Owner: |
karl49 |
Owner Comments:
The icon of the deity Bonus Eventus ("Good Outcome") on the reverse of the denarius is notably apt for coinage of Trajan. Officially honored as Optimus Princeps ("the best ruler") by his own Senate, his success was remembered by subsequent Senates who would upon ascension of each new emperor, pronouce the hopeful wish:" felicior Augusto, melior Traiano" ("[be] luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan").
Trajan ruled from 98 AD until his death by natural causes in 117 AD. He was the driving force of the greatest expansion of the Roman Empire in history.
He has remained exalted by historians of all ages. In medieval times, it was rumored than Pope Gregory I, with divine help, had Trajan resurrected and baptized into Christianity. Christian theologians such as Thomas Aquinas viewed him as a so-called "virtuous pagan", and Dante sees Trajan in Heaven in the Divine Comedy.
Some of Trajan's building works remain evident in Rome. Trajan's Column is perhaps the most notable.