Trajan Bronze As RIC II Trajan 500 (as)

Monetary Context and Denominational Function

Under the Principate, the copper-alloy as functioned as the standard small-change denomination supporting low-value transactions, retail commerce, and everyday market exchanges. Historically integrated into the Augustan base-metal trimetallic framework alongside the brass sestertius and dupondius, the as was typically struck in relatively pure copper rather than orichalcum. During Trajan's reign (AD 98-117), imperial coinage was issued in substantial quantities to meet army expenditures, monumental public building campaigns in Rome, and the reorganization of state welfare systems such as the alimenta. The base-metal coinage bridged the imperial fisc and the civilian populace, conveying major programmatic themes directly to daily users. Type RIC II Trajan 500 (as) occupies an influential position within Trajan's extensive fifth consulship output (AD 103-111), minted amidst the wealth influx generated by the successful conclusion of the Dacian Wars.

Production Standards and Mint Attribution

The entire series catalogued under RIC II Trajan 500 was manufactured exclusively at the central imperial mint in Rome. Die preparation reflected the high artistic standards of Trajan's middle reign, characterized by realistic imperial portraiture with deep relief, disciplined letterforms, and carefully delineated drapery. While individual surviving specimens exhibit slight physical variations due to manual flan preparation and striking adjustments, the standard target weight for Trajanic asses tended to cluster between 9.5 and 11.5 grams, with typical diameters ranging between 26 and 28 mm. Flans were cast, smoothed, and struck between cold dies adjusted to characteristic six o'clock or twelve o'clock die axes. Production volume for Trajan's base-metal coinage between AD 103 and 111 was exceptionally high, necessitating multiple concurrent die pairs operating across the Rome workshops.

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Image

The obverse presents a right-facing portrait of Trajan depicted as laureate, with light drapery gathered over his left shoulder. Trajan's likeness in this series breaks away from the severe, somewhat aged realism of the earlier Nerva-Trajan transition, adopting a mature, energetic, and idealized visual idiom. The hair is rendered in straight locks brushed forward onto the forehead, bound with a laurel wreath tied at the nape of the neck with fluttering ribbons. The profile features the emperor's characteristic firm jaw, prominent aquiline nose, and compressed lips, conveying authority, gravitas, and civic restraint. The truncation of the neck is carefully modeled, with the modest fold of fabric on the far shoulder adding depth without obscuring the anatomical features.

Reverse Design and Iconographic Symbolism

The reverse iconography of RIC II Trajan 500 depicts Fortuna standing draped and facing left. In her right hand, she grasps a steering oar or rudder, which commonly rests vertically before a diminutive ship's prow at her feet, while her left arm cradles a horn of abundance (cornucopiae) brimming with the fruits of the earth. In certain dies belonging to this catalogue type, the prow at the foot of the rudder is absent or faint. The presence of Fortuna with rudder and prow explicitly symbolizes divine guidance over maritime navigation, safe imperial voyages, and the secure arrival of Rome's essential grain supply through the newly improved port infrastructure at Ostia and Portus. Coupled with the cornucopiae, the design proclaims that peace and wise governance bring prosperity, security, and material wealth to the empire.

Epigraphy and Imperial Titulature

The obverse legend reads IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, rendered in the dative case (Imperatori Caesari Nervae Traiano Augusto Germanico Dacico, Pontifici Maximo, Tribunicia Potestate, Consuli Quintum, Patri Patriae). This phrasing presents the coinage as an honorary civic dedication to the emperor. The sequence records his adoption by Nerva, his triumph titles Germanicus and Dacicus (earned respectively in AD 97 and 102), his position as chief priest (Pontifex Maximus), his ongoing tribunician power, his fifth consulship entered in AD 103, and his honorific as Father of the Country. The reverse legend bears S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, expanding to Senatus Populusque Romanus Optimo Principi ('The Senate and the Roman People, to the Best of Princes'). Across the lower field, the letters S C (Senatus Consulto) declare that the bronze coin was struck under formal senatorial decree.

Typology, Dating, and Chronological Placement

The absolute chronological boundary for RIC II Trajan 500 is established by Trajan's fifth consulship, which commenced on January 1, AD 103, and remained his current consular title until he entered his sixth consulship on January 1, AD 112. Bernhard Woytek's detailed die and hoard studies place this issue within the expansive Optimo Principi middle series struck between AD 103 and 111. Typological variation within this specific catalogue number includes subtle differences in reverse detailing: most dies clearly exhibit the nautical prow at Fortuna's feet beside the rudder, whereas minor die variants omit the prow entirely. The type shares identical reverse compositions with contemporary sestertii and dupondii, forming part of a coordinated denominations package celebrating imperial stability and agricultural abundance.

Circulation Patterns and Monetary Life

Asses of Trajan, including RIC II 500, enjoyed exceptionally long and widespread circulation across the western provinces of the Roman Empire, including Italia, Gaul, the Germanies, and Britannia. Because base-metal denominations suffered less melting or recoining than high-purity silver denarii, Trajanic copper coins frequently remained active in commercial channels through the Antonine era and well into the third century AD. Excavation hoards and site finds reveal that these pieces sustained substantial wear over decades of continual handling, often circulating until their reverse devices were worn smooth. Their extensive geographical distribution demonstrates the vitality of the monetary economy under Trajan and the effectiveness of small bronze denominations in mediating daily civic exchange.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume III: Nerva to Hadrian. pp. 215-217
2. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II Trajan 500 (as). ric.2.tr.500_as
3. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume II: Vespasian to Hadrian. p. 281, no. 500
4. Die Reichsprägung des Kaisers Traianus (98-117), Moneta Imperii Romani (MIR) 14. Woytek MIR 14