Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 167. Estimate CHF22500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Bidding Closed.

Trajan. AD 98-117. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 34mm, 23.22 g 6), Rome, c. 105. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P Laureate bust of Trajan to right, drapery on far shoulder. Rev. S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C Trajan, in armor, on horseback to right, hurling spear at fallen Dacian below him. BMC 839. BN 405. C. 508. Hill 216. RIC 543. A superb coin with a fine portrait and an exceptionally attractive, deep green patina. Extremely fine.

From a Swiss private collection, Nomos 3, 10 May 2011, 183 and ex Münzen und Medaillen 81, 18 September 1995, 273.

On the reverse of this piece we see Trajan, in the guise of a heroic warrior, riding down a Dacian enemy. The conquest of Dacia was of great importance (as seen on the reliefs of Trajan’s Column in Rome), both for safeguarding the empire and providing a vast treasure of gold and silver.