Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 593. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARMENIA MINOR, Koinon Armenias. Trajan. 98-117 AD. Æ 35mm (32.47 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 and CY 43 (115 AD). [AV]T KAIC NEP [T]PAIANOC C-EB GEPM DA[KIK]O[C], laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; [date in legend] / [KOI]NON A-P-MENIAC ETO[VC] MG, Armenia seated left on shields in attitude of mourning, trophy with shield at base to left; date in exergue. SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 146: cf. CNG 36, lot 669. VF, olive and brick-red patina, partial flat strike. Extremely rare. ($2000)

Trajan's campaign against the Parthians, which began in 114 AD, was sparked by the situation in Armenia, a strategic and semi-independent kingdom that acted as an important buffer between the two empires. Parthia's deposition of the pro-Roman king of Armenia with one who was pro-Parthian upset the tenuous balance and thereby threatened Syria's wealthy cities. Trajan's campaign against Armenia was swift and decisive. By 115 AD, the Romans retook Armenia, thereby reestablishing its "independence" as a koinon, though now for all intents and purposes, it was a Roman province.