Trajan (A.D.98-117), Aureus, mint of Rome, A.D.114-117, 7.1 g., IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate draped and cuirassed bust right, rev. REX PARTHVS above Trajan seated left on platform, attended by praefect, presenting Parthamaspates as king to a suppliant Parthia, who bends knees, and is accompanied by five legionaries, three of them carrying standards (cf. RIC.310-312 and BMC.p.103*), light marks on edge from a mount, very fine and very rare

INDENTThis very rare and apparantly unrecorded coin is related to the REX PARTHIS DATVS and REGNA ADSGINATA TYPES ISSUED DURING THE PERIOD OF TRAJAN'S SIXTH CONSULSHIP A.D.112-117. TRAJAN'S CAMPAIGNS IN THE EAST LED TO HIS ACTING THE ROLE OF KING-MAKER, AND PARTHIA WAS AMONG THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH HAD THE EMPEROR'S ROYAL CANDIDATES IMPOSED ON THEM. AFTER DEFEATING THE PARTHIAN KING CHOSROES, TRAJAN APPOINTED PARTHAMASPATES IN HIS PLACE, AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH THE PARTHIANS THEMSELVES CLEARLY RESENTED. PARTHAMASPATES WAS SOON EXPELLED AND WAS FINALLY SETTLED AS KING IN ARMENIA BY TRAJAN'S SUCCESSOR HADRIAN.

THE REVERSE SHOWS THE TYPICAL FIGURE OF PARTHIA, IN CLOAK AND CAP, BENDING BEFORE THE EMPEROR, WITH ARMS RAISED AS IF IN SUPPLICATION. TRAJAN GESTURES WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND PRESENTS PARTHAMASPATES WHO STANDS FACING THE GROUP OF SOLDIERS. THE ENGRAVER HAS SKILLFULLY DEPICTED NINE FIGURES WITHIN A SMALL CIRCUMFERENCE, AND THOUGH THE SCENE IS CROWDED IT IS NOT CONFUSED. THE INFERENCE THAT THE EMPEROR HAS ACTED PURELY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PARTHIANS, ANSWERING THEIR REQUEST FOR A KING, IS OF COURSE A SKILLFUL PIECE OF IMPERIAL PROPAGANDA.