Recovering More Roman Coins at the Medieval Market Site
Then I got a nice copper signal. I hoped to dig up a cool relic, something like a signet ring or pendant, but it was a coin.
The coin's oval shape reminded me of the Roman piece that I recovered here last year. So this one could be really old too!
Indeed it was a Roman coin! Due to the coin's poor condition, It took me a long while to decipher all the letters on it and then research the emperor under whose rule it was minted.
The Coin's Legend on Obverse: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN
AVG GERM P M - Laureate head right
The Coin's Legend on Reverse: TR. POT COS
III P. P - Aequitas seated holding balance and cornucopia
Trojan Sesterius Minted in Rome in AD 101
Brief Historical Facts:
"One of Rome's most admirable figures, Trojan became emperor on January 27, AD 98. While being in his prince status, he had unofficially been honored with the title optimus, "the best," which long described him even before it became, in AD 114, part of his official title. Admired by the people, respected by the senatorial aristocracy, he faced no internal difficulties, with no rival nor opposition. His powers were very extensive.
Besides his great military achievements, Trojan had significant effect upon the infrastructure of both Rome and Italy. The arch in Beneventum is the most significant monument elsewhere in Italy. It was dedicated in 114, to mark the beginning of the new Via Traiana - a new route, with some 130 Roman feet of sheer cliff being cut away so that the highway could bend along the coast. Trojan devoted much attention to the construction and improvement of harbors. His new hexagonal harbor at Ostia at last made that port the most significant in Italy, the grain ships docked there and their cargo was shipped by barge up the Tiber to Rome.
Trajan died at the age of 64 in Selinus of Cilicia on August 9, 117, having designated Hadrian as his successor while on his death bed. Because of Trojan's unimpaired reputation, Hadrian saw to it that Trajan received all customary honors: the late emperor was declared a divus, his victories were commemorated in a great triumph, and his ashes were placed in the base of his column which was both a history in stone and the intended mausoleum for the emperor.
The passage of time increased Trojan's aura rather than diminished it. In the late fourth century, when the Roman Empire had dramatically changed in character from what it had been in Trajan's time, each new emperor was hailed with the prayer, "felicior Augusto, melior Traiano" - "may he be luckier than Augustus and better than Trojan."