Pic of new purchase (Trajan)..Nubie questions.....

icsoccer

Thanks for any help to my newbie questions.
I purchased a small collection and ancients are new to me. Bought to research - have fun with.
Here is what I know so far:
Trajan AD53 to AD117
Obverse : IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P
reverse: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC

What I would like to know...
Grade?
Material made from?
Value? (I paid $10)
How do I research these coins...there seem to be so many varients...similar coins but not exactly the same?
Is it possible to use Photoshop to outline only the edge of thse coins since there are not perfecly circular?

I used the net and got a good history lesson. I looked at ebay for values and wow so many...similar not exactly the same,
and I thought I only had to worry about Chinese fakes....lol.

WillieBoyd2

Your Roman coin looks nice!

It could be RIC 102 from the WildWinds data base:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/trajan/t.html

RIC 102
Trajan Denarius
IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P
laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder
COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, PAX in ex
Pax standing left with cornucopiae, setting fire to pile of arms on left with short torch
RSC 196

RIC is "The Roman Imperial Coinage", the definitive catalog
Written and edited by Mattingly, Harold, Sydenham, et al.
10 volumes originally published in the 1920's and revised since then.
Copies of the full set cost around US $1000.

IloiloKano

<< <i>Is it possible to use Photoshop to outline only the edge of these coins since there are not perfectly circular? >>



Yes, but it takes more time than simply using the Elliptical Marquee tool, if that is what you have been using.

Use the Polygonal Lasso tool instead.

icsoccer

Thank you for your help!

It doesn't look exactly like RIC 102. 102 has 3 initials under figurine...this coin has none......

Using the references provided I found the coin to be a perfect match to RIC II 122.
I would love to hear any comments on condition as the pic allows and values.