Trajan AR Quinarius. Rome, AD 98-99. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head right / PONT MAX TR POT COS II, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm. RIC II 25; Woytek 35a RSC 298. 1.68 g, 17 mm Fine+
The silver quinarius, or half-denarius, was introduced along with the denarius in 211 BC. It was a regular part of the coinage in the middle Republic, but was struck only sporadically thereafter. In the Imperial era, quinarii in both silver and gold (a half-aureus) were issued to mark special occasions, such as consulships, marriages and victory celebrations. Trajan's quinarii feature Victory as a reverse type almost exclusively. This example belongs to the last issue of the reign, after Trajan had received the title Parthico for his Eastern conquests of AD 115-117, which later proved ephemeral.