The Roman Empire
Trajan, 98 – 117
Restored coins of Trajan. Denarius circa 112-113, AR 3.01 g. CAPIT T(upside down)XXV Head of Ceres r., wearing barley wreath; before, flower. Rev. IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GER DAC P P REST Colonist driving two oxen l.; above, T(upside down)XXV and, in exergue, C MARI C F / S C. BABELON MARIA 9. BMC p. 22, 15. RIC 781. CBN 496. Woytek 8191 (this coin illustrated).
Of the highest rarity, apparently only four specimens known of which only two
are in private hands. Struck on a very broad flan and exceptionally
complete, light tone and about extremely fine Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 129, 2004, 311.
The restoration types of Trajan rank among the most interesting of all Roman coins. They have long been appreciated not only for their rarity and historical interest, but also for the evidence they offer that on some occasions Romans took pause to recognize their coins as items of singular interest. There can be no doubt that these nostalgic issues represent a rare numismatic indulgence on the part of the emperor and his officials at the Rome mint.
The restorations celebrate types that had been issued over a period of about three centuries. They are segregated into two major groups: denarii bearing types of the early Republic through the reign of Augustus and aurei honouring rulers from Julius Caesar through Nerva. Though their great rarity assures that not every type has yet been discovered, at present 50 distinct issues are recorded for denarii and 28 for aurei.