Denarius of Trajan

The denarius, Emperor Trajan’s silver coin minted between 103 and 111 AD, was found while preparing wasteland for farming in 1827. The coin’s surfaces are largely worn, and the depictions and inscriptions are partially illegible. The obverse depicts Emperor’s bust turned to the right, wearing a laurel wreath and a robe draped on his left shoulder. Around it, there is the inscription IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP. The motif on the reverse represents the personification of mourning Dacia, or the defeated Dacian depicted as a person turned to the right, wearing Dacian attire: trousers (braccae), a short tunic (coat?), and a pointy hat (pileus). The person is sitting on a pile of armors, covering their face with their right hand. Around the image, a part of the inscription states COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC. The pile of armors consists of two shields – one is a round shield, and the other is a long, octagonal shield – characteristic weaponry of barbarian warriors. On the right, there are two spears, which are placed almost vertically. On the left side, two swords (falx, sica, or rhomphaia types) extend from the pile. These swords were curved, bladed weapons, resembling modern scythes, with two-handed handles, which was another characteristic feature of Dacian warriors. Underneath the pile, there is another inscription saying DAC CAP (Dacia capta, which means “Dacia conquered”). Dacian people settled on the area on the left bank of the Danube river (the territories of contemporary Romania and Hungary), and posed a threat to the Roman Empire. The Roman province of Dacia was founded there in the early 2nd century after wars with the Empire and conquest by Emperor Trajan.

Monika Witek