Trajan. A.D. 98-117. AE dupondius (28 mm, 11,92). Rome mint, A.D. 103-107. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS V PP, radiate bust right, draped left shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S-C, Trajan on horseback right, spearing fallen Dacian below. RIC 538 (variety without drapery); BMCRE 942 note; Woytek 208b. Very fine.
Many of Rome’s emperors identified themselves with Hercules, the demi-god who offered many different aspects which an emperor could emulate. Trajan, who styled himself after Hercules the conqueror, was no exception. In some rare issues he is portrayed with a heroic, well-sculpted bust reminiscent of Hercules, and many of his reverse inscriptions identify him as optimo principi, the best of emperors. Hill places the optimo principi issues from 103 to 115, and this particular coin in 107, arguably the zenith of Trajan’s long and successful reign. He was in the midst of celebrations for his decennalia and was basking in the triumph he had been awarded for his victory in the Second Dacian War, which concluded in 106 with the suicide of the Dacian king Decebalus, whose severed head was displayed in Rome. It was an intoxicating moment for this vainglorious emperor, who may have believed his enterprises were favoured by Hercules. Dio tells us that Trajan took great pride in having been awarded the cognomen Optimus, valuing it above all other titles com- bined, and Pliny reports that upon their accessions to the throne, the senate addressed all future emperors with the well-wish that they might be felicior Augusto, Trajano melior, ”Happier than Augustus, better than Trajan.”