- Stock: Sold
- Model: Emperor with Jupiter
During the Eastern campaign of AD 114-117, Trajan barely escaped death in Antioch when a severe earthquake collapsed the building where he was in residence, forcing him to escape through a window. According to Cassius Dio, Trajan was rescued "by some being, of greater than human stature, who came to him and led him forth, so he escaped with only a few slight injuries. " The figure was later taken to be a god, perhaps Jupiter himself in quasi-mortal guise. This denarius, which shows a giant figure of Jupiter shielding the emperor, likely refers to this episode.
Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 114-117. IMP TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate and draped bust right / COS VI P P SPQR, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, protecting Trajan, who stands left under his arm holding branch. RIC 298; BMC 514; RSC 108. 3.42 g, 19mm. almost Very Fine.