143
3146
Trajan. Silver Denarius (3.6 g), AD 98-117.
Rome, AD 101/2. IMP CAES NER-
VA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head of Trajan right.
Reverse:
P M TR P COS
IIII P P, statue of Hercules standing facing on small base, holding club and lion’s
skin. RIC 49; Woytek 100a; BMC 86; RSC 234. Boldly struck and well centered
with lustrous surfaces.
Nearly Mint State.
The statue of Hercules on this coin honors Hercules of Gades, the patron of
Trajan’s native country. The Pillars of Hercules - the Rock of Gibraltar on the
European flank, and an undetermined summit on the North African coast
opposite - served as the westernmost extent of Hercules’ labors, where he
was sent to capture the Cattle of Geryon and bring them back to Eurystheus.
For the ancients, the sea beyond the Pillars represented the great Unknown.
Estimated Value ......................................................................................$800 - 900
3147
Trajan. Silver Denarius (3.3 g), AD 98-117.
Rome, AD 101/2. IMP CAES NERVA TRA-IAN
AVG GERM, laureate head of Trajan right.
Re-
verse:
P M TR P COS IIII P P, Victory standing
right, holding wreath and palm, on prow of gal-
ley terminating in a serpent. RIC 59; Woytek 123a;
BMC 102; RSC 241. Well struck and perfectly
centered. Lightly toned.
Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value .....................................$500 - 600
