Ancient Coins: Trajan - The Optimus Princeps

Trajan, one of Ancient Rome's legendary Emperors. Lets go over the story of his reign, and look at some of his amazing coins.
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Music: Celtic Bouree in C Minor Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)
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[@ClassicalNumismatics]

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[@hridgreximp6194]

Trajan, who will always have a place in my collection, being my first denarius ever, a Dacia capta from Romania of all places …

[@ivdeadelendaest]

Yooo I literally just got a Trajan Denarius with Spes in the mail today, I got it cheap because it's damaged but its "damage" is that it was made into jewelry at some point and has gold adhered to it, not gonna complain lol. It's a heroic bust too, my absolute favorite.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thats pretty awesome, I love coins with some "personal history" to them as well

[@user-wx3lc2sn6i]

Thanks Leo that was amazing 👍😁

[@gudea5207]

Every collector needs some Dacian silver

[@asasinofull]

Nice work!👍

[@klausbiegerfac.cs.naturale1392]

I have some Trajan coins in my collection - among them the very same As you showed in your video. It seems to be one of the standard coins of Trajan. Unfortunetely most of my examples are of lower conservation grades. Some interesting coins as they are among the last ones struck of this value are the quadrans coins.

[@christopherevans2445]

I really like that divo Trajan 251ad Leo. Looks to be in great condition

[@ijnyamato4351]

I have a Denarius of Trajan with the Mars reverse and a Drachm of Trajan from Bostra.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Mars really fits Trajan and his coins very well

[@user-wy5fz6hh3o]

7:24 , same with Hadrian , the female bust looks exactly like him 😂

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

What about poor Severina, basically Aurelian with a wig!

[@leonardodtc4847]

Wonderful video, coolest emperor in my opinion.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thank you! He's also in my top 10 list, for sure!

[@christopherevans2445]

@@ClassicalNumismatics hi Leo. I think I can guess at least 3 I think our in your top ten. Based on some Vids (Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Probus). Definitely in mine

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

I recently acquired an As of Trajan in a lot of uncleaned coins! It's an early one for his reign and it has some corrosion and a bit of damage but still it's my first Trajan!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Awesome! Hopefully its the first of many coins

[@kdnofyudbn5918]

This was so helpful

[@cooper1929]

The Trajan RIC 269 you used for the thumbnail once belonged to me before I sold it with Leu. Is it in your collection now, since you didn’t show it in the video. Nice video and good examples shown!

[@bombombarabom3794]

Why not being my favorite, Trajan is without the doubt one of the best roman emperors. Balancing his own imperial powers with actuall giving respect to senate.

[@Numischannel]

0:30 that Arabian drachm overstruck on a Nabatean sela' is very impressive!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

It is! I have only seen examples of these drachmae with very faint signs of the previous coins, but in this case, its super clear that it is an overstruck piece.

[@Numischannel]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Hi Leo, I commented too early, I see you have very well explained the coin further in your video... now I am watching it entirely, during the day my home is a mess with the kids around! 😅 Yes, definitvely is the best example of this overstrike I've seen, Spijkerman has several examples shown in his plates when discussing this subject but none like yours!

[@UKDark_Mark]

Being new to ancient coins I have once again learned much from your videos. Thank you!

[@markp44288]

Excellent video, and a lot of very cool coins. I kind of want one like the last one now. I already have so many cool Trajan coins!

[@Crypto-Possible]

I love your videos! 😃 I would love to have a coin with Trajan. He conquered Dacia, the actual teritory of Romania (the country on where I live) on two wars on folowing years: 101-102 and 105-106. The battles between geto-dacians and romans are represented on column of Trajan that is still standing today in Rome. 😃

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I guess a Trajan coin featuring the famous Danube bridge would be a dream piece for you :)

[@Crypto-Possible]

@@ClassicalNumismatics You are refering to the bridge build by Apollodorus from Damascus. I didn't knew that exists a coin with Trajan featuring that bridge. It is a denarius or a modern coin?

[@fificrossnails]

Thanks for another informative video; I have three denarii of Trajan, and hope to obtain more soon.

[@Whitesmokeromania]

My favorite guy

[@EgonBegone]

Love me some wordy Trajan legends!

[@nazarnovitsky9868]

Thanks for the new video ! 😊

[@bratrcunik4571]

Trajan's denarius with the goddess Roma on the reverse was my first ancient coin. I also have the nice denar with the god Mars and the as with the goddess Viktory. And dupondius with the emperor between two military standards. A coin with one of Trajan's ladies is on my wish list.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Ohh, I know which is this type with the two standards, its very charming

[@MyCrimsonFuneral]

Wonderful video as always! I loved seeing the drachmas - very cool to see that long name list in Greek as well :D! I have a very classical denarius of Trajan struck in Rome - very beautiful coin which I enjoy a lot!

[@oldschoolnateguy]

Thank you for this new informative historical dive. I love the channel, please keep it coming.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thank you! I will :)

[@donklaser217]

I have a denarius of Trajan.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Nice! Which type?

[@donklaser217]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Sear 3121, RIC 116, RSC 69. AD 108 - 109.

[@NapoleonCalland]

Optimus Princeps. AVE ! 🦅 🦁 ☀️ 🐝 ⚡ 🦅 ⚡ 🐝 ☀️ 🦁

[@arnival3694]

Tyty

[@frgv4060]

But the Parthians had long before conquered Rome with its chicken.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Honorius, the Emperor who ruled Rome when Rome was sacked in 410, had a chicken, its name? Roma!

[@user-qw3jo9rj2d]

hi, I have a medallion of Syracuse (ancient Greece 7-3 BC) is there any way I can contact you for a more detailed dialogue

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

no

[@tscoles83]

Would someone help me tell the difference between Gordian the third ric34 and ric177 pls

[@fificrossnails]

Just had a look, and I can’t tell the difference by looking at them. The description on Wildwinds says one was minted in Rome, and the other in Antioch, but I couldn’t see how you could tell them apart (the RIC177 pic wasn’t very clear though!)

[@tscoles83]

Sorry I didn't see your reply but that's the same problem I'm having I have taken it to some collectors at my coin club but no one can't tell me the difference. I am going to the central States show in IL and I hope someone can tell me there

[@daver8521]

I am surprised that you did not mention Trajan's debasement of the silver coinage. With all the plunder pouring in from Dacia and Trajan's other conquests, I've never understood why this was necessary.

[@christopherevans2445]

More of a 3rd Century move right?

[@daver8521]

@@christopherevans2445 The 3rd century debasements were more dramatic, but Trajan debased the silver coinage too.