Trajan Koinon of Armenia - AE Sestertius - Kovacs-302

Reference Description

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

Recent Sales

  Date Characteristics Realized  
Roma Numismatics XXI Lot 376 24-Mar-2021 36mm, 29.64g, 11h GBP 4,800 PHOTO
CNG Triton XXIV Lot 914 19-Jan-2021 35mm, 26.19g, 11h $8,000  PHOTO
Leu Numismatik 7 Lot 1485 24-Oct-2020 32mm, 21.83g, 12h CHF 3,600 PHOTO
Leu Numismatik 7 Lot 1486 24-Oct-2020 36mm, 30.29g, 11h CHF 3,400 PHOTO
Numismatik Naumann 92 Lot 468 2-Aug-2020 33mm, 25.49g EUR 1,600 PHOTO
Leu Numismatik Web 12 Lot 891 30-May-2020 35mm, 30.53g, 12h CHF 3,400 PHOTO
CNG eAuction 357 Lot 254 12-Aug-2015 31mm, 20.55g, 12h $1,900  PHOTO
Helios 1 Lot 463 17-Apr-2008 33mm, 27.94g   PHOTO
CNG Auction 82 Lot 836 16-Sep-2009 33mm, 23.40g, 12h $600  PHOTO
M&M Deutschland 19 Lot 17 16-May-2006 34mm, 22.56g   PHOTO
CNG Auction 70 Lot 593 21-Sep-2005 33mm, 32.47g $3,000  PHOTO
CNG Auction 36 Lot 669 5-Dec-1995 27.30g   PHOTO

Notes

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.

Files

Roma 21 lot 376.jpg

Collection

Citation

“Trajan Koinon of Armenia - AE Sestertius - Kovacs-302,” Armenian Numismatic Research Organization, accessed November 21, 2024, https://armnumres.org/items/show/868.