114 NGC AU Trajan Roman Empire Denarius Mars Trophy Spear (23042502C)

Almost Uncirculated Emperor Trajan Roman Empire silver denarius coin. 18mm, 3.61g, RIC 331, RSC 190, struck between 114 to 117 CE. Dark toned with underlying colorful luster. Certified by NGC to AU. Obverse:  IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right.  Reverse: PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round shoulders, advancing right, holding oblique spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder in left. Mars was the god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. This reverse type likely associated with the Roman Legion's victories over Parthia.