Trajan Koinon of Armenia - AE Sestertius - Kovacs-302

Trajan 98-117 AD
AE Sestertius, Orichalcum 113-114 AD, Nicopolis ad Lycum
Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΝЄΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ΓЄΡΜ ΔΑΚ ΤΟ ΖΙ
Laureate head of Trajan to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder.
Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΑΡΜЄΝΙΑϹ ЄΤΟΥ ΜΓ
Armenia, wearing tiara, seated left on shields, propping her head on her right hand in attitude of mourning; to left, trophy of arms.
Kovacs-302
RPC-III-2944
Image shown: Roma Numismatics Auction 21 Lot 376

The capital, Nicopolis ad Lycum, was founded by Pompey the Great ca. 65 BC after a victory over Mithradates of Pontus (Burrell 2004, 234). The koinon was attached to the Roman province of Galatia-Cappadocia in AD 71/72.


CNG Triton XXIV Lot 914

The kingdom of Armenia Minor was given to Aristobulus by Nero in AD 54. It was then annexed by Vespasian and incorporated into Cappadocia with its main city being Nicopolis ad Lycum (modern Yesilyayla in Turkey). Trajan led his military campaign against Armenia, and once again, it was annexed into the Empire in AD 114, which is commemorated on this sestertius-sized coin issued that same year.


Leu Numismatik Web 12 Lot 891

This very rare coin from the Armenian Koinon celebrates Trajan\'s conquest and annexation of Armenia in 114. The issue is dually dated to the regnal year of the emperor on the obverse and the civic era of Nicopolis ad Lycum on the reverse, the latter of which was introduced in 71/2 following the dissolution of the Kingdom of Armenia Minor and its incorporation into the province of Galatia-Cappadocia. Style and size are closely reminiscent of sestertii and the type is obviously heavily influenced by Roman imperial propaganda, which makes it likely that it was struck in support, or by command, of Roman military forces, all the more as Nicopolis ad Lycum lay on a strategically important crossroad on the way to the Armenian frontline.