This is a authentic and highly circulated coin of the ancient Roman Empire under the rule of Emperor Trajan from 98-117 AD.

Trajan was born in Italica, close to modern Santiponce (Seville) in present-day Spain, an Italic settlement in Hispania Baetica; his branch of the Ulpia gens came from the town of Tuder in the Umbria region of central Italy. His namesake father, Marcus Ulpius Traianus, also from Italica, was a senator.

Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of Domitian. In 89 AD, serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, he supported the emperor against a revolt on the Rhine led by Antonius Saturninus. He then served as governor of Germania and Pannonia. In September 96, Domitian was succeeded by the elderly and childless Nerva, who proved to be unpopular with the army. After a revolt by members of the Praetorian Guard, Nerva decided to adopt as his heir and successor the more popular Trajan, who had distinguished himself in military campaigns against Germanic tribes.

As emperor of Rome, Trajan oversaw the construction of building projects such as the forum named after him, the introduction of social welfare policies such as the alimenta, and new military conquests. He annexed Nabataea and Dacia, and his war against the Parthian Empire ended with the incorporation of Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria as Roman provinces.

In August 117 AD, while sailing back to Rome, Trajan fell ill and died of a stroke in the city of Selinus. He was deified by the senate and his successor Hadrian (Trajan's cousin). According to historical tradition, Trajan's ashes were entombed in a small room beneath Trajan's Column.

The coin is a testament to the power and wealth of the empire during its heyday.

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