Copper As of Trajan RIC 434

Copper As (27mm 10.71g) Struck AD 101-102 Rome

Obv: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M Laureate bust right

Rev: T R POT COS IIII P P S C Victory alighting left, holding palm and sheild inscribed SPQR

RIC II 434

ex. Aereatus

The Front (Obverse): The Warrior Emperor

The front shows a rugged profile of Trajan. 

IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M

• IMP (Imperator): The ultimate army commander.
• CAES (Caesar): The traditional title linking him to the imperial line.
• NERVA: Trajan was adopted by the previous emperor, Nerva. Keeping Nerva’s name on the coin was a great way to remind everyone: "Hey, I am the rightful, legal heir to the throne."
• TRAIAN AVG (Traian Augustus): His name and his official title as Emperor.
• GERM (Germanicus): His victory title for fighting tribes along the Rhine River.
• P M (Pontifex Maximus): The high priest of Rome, keeping the gods on the Empire's side.

Notice something missing? The title DAC (Dacian) isn't here yet! That is because the war in Dacia was still happening or had just wrapped up its first phase when this coin was struck. He hadn't officially taken the title yet.

The Back (Reverse): Victory is Coming

The back of this coin features Victory, the winged goddess, marching forward. She is holding a wreath and a palm branch—the ultimate ancient symbols of winning.

At this exact moment in history (AD 101–102), Trajan was leading Roman legions across the Danube River into dangerous territory. Putting Victory on the money was a brilliant piece of wartime news: it told the public that the army was winning and that total triumph was just around the corner.

The text around her reads:

TR P COS IIII P P along with a giant S C

• TR P (Tribunicia Potestas): He has the power to protect the common citizens.
• COS IIII (Consul for the 4th time): This is our time-stamp! Trajan became Consul for the fourth time in AD 101, letting us date this coin perfectly to the opening moves of the Dacian War.
• P P (Pater Patriae): "Father of the Country."
• S C (Senatus Consulto): This means "By Decree of the Senate." You see these two huge letters on almost all bronze and copper Roman coins. While the Emperor controlled the silver and gold mints, the Senate technically authorized the everyday copper coins. It showed the Emperor and the Senate were working together.

The Big Takeaway

Holding this copper coin in AD 102 was like reading a wartime headline. It told the everyday Roman citizen: "Our legitimate leader, Trajan, is out on the frontier right now, and the Goddess of Victory is marching right alongside his legions!"