The quinarius was a denomination that had nearly disappeared from everyday circulation by the 2nd century AD, surviving largely as a special issue with limited ceremonial or donative function. Under Trajan, whose coinage otherwise abounds in martial and architectural themes, the quinarius is a striking anomaly in both scale and purpose.

This small silver coin encapsulates Trajan’s presentation as Optimus Princeps-“the Best of Princes”-a title officially bestowed by the Senate in AD 114 but already anticipated in legends such as this. The Victory reverse emphasizes Rome’s triumphs in Dacia and the emperor’s continuing role as guarantor of the state’s security and glory.

Coins of this type are very seldom encountered. Their scarcity is compounded here by illustrious provenance: once in the collection of Virgil Brand, one of the greatest American coin collectors, and later in the celebrated quinarius cabinet of Carl Subak, where it was selected for illustration in Cathy King’s standard reference on the denomination.