Agora Auctions, LLC
Numismatic Auction 65 14 March 2017
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Trajan. A.D. 98-117. AE semis (20.9 mm, 4.14 g, 7 h). Cyprus mint, struck A.D. 115-116. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM, radiate head right, draped left shoulder / DAC PARTHICO P M TR POT XX COS VI P P, SC, legend around and within oak wreath. RIC 677; cf. BMCRE 1100 (Rome). aVF, red, sandy highlights. Scarce.
Ex D. Thomas collection.
The Cypriot issues of Trajan were the first bronze coins issued for the island since A.D. 75/76. This issue may have been an attempt to finally reconcile the Ptolemaic Cypriot bronze denominations (which were still based on the archaic Greek monetary system) with the Roman Imperial system. Although very similar to RIC 645 (struck in Rome for use in Syria), the style is Cypriot.
Ex D. Thomas collection.
The Cypriot issues of Trajan were the first bronze coins issued for the island since A.D. 75/76. This issue may have been an attempt to finally reconcile the Ptolemaic Cypriot bronze denominations (which were still based on the archaic Greek monetary system) with the Roman Imperial system. Although very similar to RIC 645 (struck in Rome for use in Syria), the style is Cypriot.