Trajan. 98-117 AD. Alexandria, Egypt, c. 111-112 AD (Year 15)
Trajan. 98-117 AD. Alexandria, Egypt, c. 111-112 AD (Year 15)
AE Drachm, 22.08g (32mm, 12h). ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ laureate bust of Trajan, r., nude and with aegis on l. shoulder / L IE Emperor (Trajan) standing in quadriga, r., laureate-headed, wearing a toga, holding eagle-tipped sceptre and branch.
Pedigree: Ex Dattari Collection and plate coin in RPC Volume III
References: RPC III 4604.3.33 (this coin). Online https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/4604.3. Dattari-Savio Pl. 30, 754 (this coin).
Grade: Extremely pleasant in hand. Minor surface irregularities. Good strike and well centered. About EF (re1106)
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This coin was struck in c. 111-112 AD, a few short years before the Kitos War of 115 AD in which there were major Jewish uprisings in Egypt, along with Cyrenaica and Cyprus. Trajan was also embroiled in his war with Parthia that took many of his soldiers to the eastern front of the Empire leaving less man power to control this series of uprisings. The fighting was so brutal that large portions of the Jewish population were murdered and the Romans themselves had to live in the area in order to grow the population of the city again.