Product Details

Roman Imperial. Trajan (98-117). AR Denarius (19mm, 3.51g, 8h). Mint: Rome. Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P. Laureate bust right, with slight drapery Rev: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI / VIA TRAIANA. Via Traiana reclining left on rocks, head right, holding branch and wheel Ref: Woytek 398b; RIC 266 Near VF, Flan flaw. Trajan built the Via Traiana to bypass the rugged Apennines, opening a faster coastal route through Apulia to Brindisi and the Adriatic ports. This road was central to his reorganization of Italy's infrastructure and cut travel time to the eastern empire. Rome commemorated it on coinage, a rare honor for a public works project. All coins guaranteed for life. (301) 542-4840