Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Trajan, 98 – 117

Aureus circa 112-113, AV 7.15 g. IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. DIVVS PATER TRAIANVS Bareheaded and draped bust of Trajan's father r. C 2 var. (not cuirassed). BMC 506. RIC 763. CBN 691. Calicó 1137 (misdescribed). Woytek 408f3 (this coin cited).
Very rare and in unusually fine condition for this difficult and fascinating
issue. Two attractive portraits struck on a very broad flan,
about extremely fine / good very fine


Ex Leu sale 86, 2003, 829.

Marcus Ulpius Traianus, or Trajan Pater, was the biological father of the emperor Trajan. He hailed from Spain where his family maintained business interests, but he was distantly of Umbrian origins. Josephus mentions that Trajan Pater had a successful military career, commanding the illustrious Tenth Legion in Syria (Legio X Fretensis) while serving with distinction on the staff of the future emperor Vespasian during the Jewish War. He was held in such high esteem by his general that after the latter's elevation to the throne, he made him suffect consul in A.D. 70. From A.D. 73-77 Trajan Pater served as propraetor of Syria, and during his administration he successfully repelled an invasion by the Parthians under Vologases II. For this he received the triumphal regalia. Subsequently, from A.D. 79-80, he served as proconsul of Asia, the pinnacle of his career. It is not certain when Trajan Pater died, but it seems to have been before A.D. 100, perhaps after his son's elevation. His son had him deified in either A.D. 112 or 114, and he was commemorated on three issues of Trajan's coinage as well as in contemporary inscriptions and on statuary. As a citizen who had never attained the throne, he is always shown bareheaded.