The New York Sale
Auction 40 11 January 2017
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ANCIENT COINS, ROMAN EMPIRE, Trajan. Gold Aureus (7.30 g), AD 98-117. Rome, ca. AD 108-110. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan right. Rev. COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Arabia, draped, standing facing, head left, holding branch and bundle of canes(?); before her, camel walking left. (cf. RIC 142 (bust); Woytek 290f; BMC 294-5; Calicó 1004a). Rare. Well struck and perfectly centered. Lustrous surfaces. Extremely fine.
The reverse of this rare aureus celebrates Trajan's annexation of the kingdom of the Nabataean Arabs as the Roman-administered province of Arabia in AD 106. When Rabbel II, the reigning Nabataean king died, Trajan dispatched two legions to secure the leaderless kingdom as part of his long-term preparations for a grand campaign against the Parthians. Despite the existence of an heir, there seems to have been little serious resistance to the Roman takeover and Trajan never adopted the title Arabicus. The reverse shows the personification of Arabia, whose camel at her feet clearly identifies her, and the mysterious objects that she cradles in her arm have been variously described as a bundle of cinnamon or incense - luxury products for which Arabia was famous.
Estimate: $ 15,000
The reverse of this rare aureus celebrates Trajan's annexation of the kingdom of the Nabataean Arabs as the Roman-administered province of Arabia in AD 106. When Rabbel II, the reigning Nabataean king died, Trajan dispatched two legions to secure the leaderless kingdom as part of his long-term preparations for a grand campaign against the Parthians. Despite the existence of an heir, there seems to have been little serious resistance to the Roman takeover and Trajan never adopted the title Arabicus. The reverse shows the personification of Arabia, whose camel at her feet clearly identifies her, and the mysterious objects that she cradles in her arm have been variously described as a bundle of cinnamon or incense - luxury products for which Arabia was famous.
Estimate: $ 15,000