Watch List notes:

THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Trajan, 98 – 117

Denarius, Spring 113-Summer 114, AR 3.21 g. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. S P Q R OPTI – MO PRINCIPI Trajan's Column surmounted with statue of the Emperor; at base, two eagles. C 558. BMC 452. RIC 292. CBN 746. Woytek 425v.
In superb condition for the issue. Perfectly struck and exceptionally
complete, old cabinet tone and extremely fine


Of all of the truly monumental buildings and commemorative structures which the emperor Trajan built, only one, the Columna Traiani, has survived in a reasonable state of completeness. Indeed, it appears almost identical in person as it does on coins, except that the statue of Trajan that originally surmounted it was replaced in 1588 with a statue of St. Paul. When completed, the column occupied a prominent place between two libraries, the Basilica Ulpia and the Temple of Trajan and Plotina. The column was massive: it was over 12 feet in diameter at its base, and rose to a height of nearly 130 feet. Its core was comprised of 34 blocks of Carrara white marble that were made hollow so as to accommodate a circular staircase of 185 steps. The most remarkable feature of the column, however, was its ornamentation, for the friezes on its exterior are some of the most inspiring works of art ever produced. Monumental in scope and execution, they record Trajan's two Dacian campaigns, from 101-3 and 104-6. All told, there are more than 2,500 individually sculpted figures distributed among more than 150 scenes. The emperor himself is represented no less than fifty times – not a surprise considering his penchant for commemorative architecture and his pride in having added Dacia to the provinces of the empire.