Silver Denarius of Trajan, Rome - Latium
Title
Silver Denarius of Trajan, Rome - Latium
Subject
Coinage--Rome
Description
Obv. bust of Trajan r. draped with diadem; around IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIM AVG GERM
Rev. soldier standing r. holding spear and parazonium; around PARTH[...] PM CAP COS V
Weight: 2.7g
Diameter: 18.7mm
Trajan’s campaign against the Parthian Empire was, in the end, unsuccessful. In 113/114 CE, he went to war against the Parthians when they removed the pro-Roman Armenian king. During this time, future emperor Hadrian was governor of Syria and in charge of logistics for Trajan’s Parthian campaign. Unfortunately, no contemporary accounts or monuments survive of Trajan’s time in Parthia, indicating that it was not celebrated and was perhaps shameful for the emperor. In 116 CE, Trajan took the capital of the Parthian Empire, Ctesiphon, and minted coins with the legend PARTHIA CAPTA (“with Parthia having been captured”) to celebrate. However, this did not spell defeat for the Parthians, and there were still revolts against Roman rule in Mesopotamia and Armenia. With Trajan’s death in 117 CE, the Parthian War ended and was not continued by his successor, Hadrian.
Rev. soldier standing r. holding spear and parazonium; around PARTH[...] PM CAP COS V
Weight: 2.7g
Diameter: 18.7mm
Trajan’s campaign against the Parthian Empire was, in the end, unsuccessful. In 113/114 CE, he went to war against the Parthians when they removed the pro-Roman Armenian king. During this time, future emperor Hadrian was governor of Syria and in charge of logistics for Trajan’s Parthian campaign. Unfortunately, no contemporary accounts or monuments survive of Trajan’s time in Parthia, indicating that it was not celebrated and was perhaps shameful for the emperor. In 116 CE, Trajan took the capital of the Parthian Empire, Ctesiphon, and minted coins with the legend PARTHIA CAPTA (“with Parthia having been captured”) to celebrate. However, this did not spell defeat for the Parthians, and there were still revolts against Roman rule in Mesopotamia and Armenia. With Trajan’s death in 117 CE, the Parthian War ended and was not continued by his successor, Hadrian.
Date
115-117 CE
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