Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Trajan. Silver Denarius (3.1 g), AD 98-117. Rome, AD 104-107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, heroic bust showing bare chest of Trajan left, slight drapery on near shoulder. Reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Genius standing facing, head left, sacrificing out of patera over altar at his feet to left, holding cornucopiae. RIC 185; cf. Woytek 217q; BMC p. 60, note; RSC 394f. Extremely rare. Boldly struck and quite attractive with lovely iridescent toning on both sides. Superb Extremely Fine.

A splendid and very rare bust type, almost medallic in nature! We must wonder if coins such as this were used as special presentation pieces.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex NAC 38 (21 March 2007), 50.