Description

The Coin

Trajan (98-118 CE)
Silver Denarius
Obv: Laurate and draped head
Rev: cos V PP SPQR. optimo princ. Araga holding canes with Camel at feet.

Trajan

The second coin is also a silver denarius, and depicts on the front a bust of a laureate who has drapery on his shoulder, presumably representing Trajan. The back of the coin depicts Arabia holding a branch and bundle of canes, with a camel at her feet. Arabia represents the Arabian Peninsula personified. Trajan annexed the Arabian Peninsula, and the coin was produced during Trajan’s time as the Roman Emperor to commemorate the annexation. The branch and bundle of canes are thought to represent cinnamon branches, as cinnamon was a main export of the Arabian Peninsula before and after Trajan annexed it.