"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
"CHIEF PRIEST, HOLDER OF TRIBUNICIAN POWER, CONSUL FOR THE SIXTH TIME, FATHER OF THE FATHERLAND — THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF ROME"
Obverse Legend
IMPImperator — Supreme military commander
CAESCaesar — Imperial dynastic title
NERNerva — Adopted name from his predecessor, Emperor Nerva
TRAIANOTrajan — the emperor's personal name
OPTIMOOptimus — "The Best" — a unique honour granted by the Senate
AVGAugustus — "The Revered One"
GERGermanicus — Conqueror of the Germans
DACDacicus — Conqueror of Dacia (modern Romania)
Reverse Legend
P MPontifex Maximus — Chief priest of Roman religion
TR PTribunicia Potestas — Holder of tribunician power
COS VIConsul VI — Consul for the sixth time (helps date the coin)
P PPater Patriae — Father of the Fatherland
S P Q RSenatus 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.
Historical Context
Trajan (AD 98–117) is remembered as one of Rome’s greatest emperors — the Senate granted him the title Optimus Princeps (“Best Ruler”). Under his leadership, the Roman Empire reached its maximum territorial extent, stretching from Britain to Mesopotamia. His two Dacian Wars (AD 101–102 and 105–106) conquered modern Romania and brought enormous wealth to Rome, funding a massive building program including Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Market, and the famous Column depicted on this coin. The Column’s spiraling relief, which still stands in Rome today, tells the story of the Dacian campaigns in over 2,600 carved figures — the most detailed surviving account of Roman military operations.
