2016-06-14 Tue

The Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles’ auction that was held on 7th and 8th June offered a rare bronze sestertius of Trajan which was issued when the Roman port was getting expanded. The obverse features a portrait of Trajan and the reverse depicts an aerial view of Trajan’s hexagonal harbour at Ostia, with the entrance, buildings and colonnades around the harbour, and three anchored ships.

The new harbour was constructed by the Roman emperor Trajan at Ostia to satisfy the needs of the growing population and to avoid congestion. The port was located at the Tiber River which was 14 miles away from Rome. Goods that were traded at the port were transported to and fro the capital city via the river or via land.

Since the efforts of expanding ports by Claudius and Nero were not that effective, Trajan constructed a new hexagonal harbour behind the original Claudian port. The port was completed in A.D. 113 and the rare bronze sestertius sold at the auction was issued around that time.

The coin is graded Very Fine and had an estimate of $5,000 to $6,000.