Thread by @DocCrom

Ancient Coin of the Day: A gorgeous sestertius of Trajan, ca. AD 103-111, with a Reverse showing the Circus Maximus, one of a series of coin issues by Trajan commemorating his extensive building works. #ACOTD #Trajan

Image: RIC II Trajan 571

Trajan is said to have enlarged and beautified the Circus Maximus (Dio 68.15.7), yet while Dio would suggest his modesty "merely inscribing on it a statement that he had made it adequate for the Roman people", coins from this period speak of his commemoration of various projects.

Both base and precious metal coinages were used to commemorate these projects, such as this striking aureus of AD 112-114 showing the facade of his Forum.

Image: RIC II Trajan 255

Inevitably, a key feature of his coinage was his Column, shown here on a sestertius of AD 112-114, with several examples showing this monument to his Dacian campaign.

Image: RIC II Trajan 600

Indeed, the Dacian campaign is perhaps celebrated even more directly in a curious coin issue that appears on both as and (here) sestertius, showing a single-span bridge.

Image: RIC II Trajan 569

This bridge has been variously interpreted as perhaps being the famous bridge that Trajan, and his architect Apollodorus, set up over the Danube in AD 104, in preparation for his second Dacian campaign. Alternatively it could refer to a restoration of the Pons Sublicius.

What is striking is the sheer volume of coins commemorating building projects, with some - such as this temple on a sestertius of AD 103-111 - which we cannot formally identify.

Image: RIC II Trajan 577

For more on this, see:

Marzano, Annalisa. “Trajanic Building Projects on Base-Metal Denominations and Audience Targeting.” Papers of the British School at Rome, vol. 77, 2009, pp. 125–158.

#ACOTD #Trajan