★ Trajan's Forum ★

Trajan AD 98-117. Rome
Aureus AV

19 mm, 7,25 g

IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Frontal view of the hexastyle façade of Trajan's Forum, with central entrance and two alcoves containing statues to either side, an elaborate statue group comprised of facing quadriga between three statues on each side atop the roof; FORVM TRAIAN in exergue.

Very Fine

RIC 257; Cohen 168 var. (not cuirassed); Calicó 1031; BMCRE 509; Biaggi 494; Woytek 409f.

Trajan's Forum, located in the heart of ancient Rome, is a remarkable testament to the grandeur of Roman architecture and engineering. Commissioned by Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98 to 117 AD, this monumental complex played a pivotal role in the city's civic life. Designed by the famed architect Apollodorus of Damascus, it comprised several key elements. At its center stands Trajan's Column, a towering monument adorned with a spiraling frieze that vividly narrates the Emperor's triumphant campaigns in the Dacian Wars. Adjacent to the column, the Basilica Ulpia served as a legal and administrative center, hosting important public functions. Nearby, Trajan's Library housed a vast collection of scrolls, establishing its reputation as one of the most significant libraries of the ancient world. One of the distinctive features of the forum was the Markets of Trajan, a multi-level complex that resembled an early version of a shopping mall. The forum's open square, enclosed by colonnades, provided a space for public gatherings and events. Trajan's Forum was not only an architectural marvel but also a symbol of Roman power and cultural achievement. Today, it remains a prominent archaeological site and a fascinating window into ancient Roman history and civilization.