Trajan Sestertius AQUA TRAIANA Found at Bank of England Excavations 1929. Scarce

Trajan sestertius AQUA TRAIANIA reverse. Struck at Rome AD 110. The reverse design commemorates the opening of the Aqua Traiana, a water source for Rome inaugurated 20th July 109 that terminates with the state depicted on the coin. A scarce type. The coin is part of a collection I’m slowly working through of coins in packets marked with the location they were found and where the collector bought them from. This coin was found at excavations at the Bank of England in 1929 and was purchased from GF Lawrence. Fair to near Fine with all important details clear.

George Fabian Lawrence, known as Stoney Jack, had a shop at Wandsworth from 1895 until his death in 1939. The source for the coins and artefacts he sold were workmen in the city who he let know he would pay good money for any interesting things they found and, if a find sold for more than he expected, reputedly track down the finder to give them their share – he knew which side his bread was buttered on. It was these workmen who gave him the name Stoney Jack. He is perhaps best known for purchasing the Cheapside Hoard and selling it to the Museum of London.

Obverse: Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P
Reverse:  River god reclining left in arched grotto, resting on urn & holding reed  SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI S-C, AQVA TRAIANA in exergue
References: RIC 463, RCV 3179
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 24.71grams

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