TrajanDacianArmsAs2

1994 was a good year, but I remember thinking how expensive ancients seemed to be and how much I was going to have to shell out for this one. Time has made me look like a wise speculator, but the truth is I got lucky . . . for once. Normally if I invest in something, its value plummets soon. I don't know what this would bring today, but I imagine it would be more than I paid . . . at least, I hope that is the case.

This is a spectacular coin with amazing sharpness for a bronze and an attractive olive green patina. I have rarely seen an aegis so sharply defined. It's also fairly high relief which is difficult to pick up on a scan of a darkly patinated bronze.

Congratulations on being the first to spot this coin. I think it is one of my best bronzes and I had been mystified that nobody noticed it. Good eye. -h

Seen the difficulty to find this reverse, I was already quite happy with mine (bought in a London coin fair from M. Vosper):

http://www.ancients.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/3618

Yours bears a very noble portrait of Trajan with a rarely seen prominent aegis indeed. Plus perfect details on reverse and a natural patina. Roman bronzes like we love them!

Jérôme