Rare Silver Coin Minted Under Emperor Trajan in AD 107 Emerges as a Significant Historical Find

Issued shortly after Trajan recalled worn Republican coins from circulation, this coin is one of only two known examples to have come up for sale in the past 25 years.

A rare silver coin minted under Emperor Trajan in 107 AD has been discovered by a metal detectorist in Nottinghamshire, offering insight into a pivotal moment in Roman history.

The coin was found by Paul Capewell, 59, in a field he has visited for over 20 years. Despite finding Roman and Medieval coins before, Capewell said this was his "most exciting find so far."

The coin is one of only two known examples to have come up for sale in the past 25 years and is set to be sold at Noonans Mayfair in an auction on Oct. 22, 2024. It is expected to fetch between £5,000 and £6,000 (about $8,300–$10,000 CAD).

The coin was minted shortly after Trajan recalled worn Republican coins from circulation. Some coins in circulation at the time were over 300 years old.

The coin's design is based on an earlier issue from 46 BC by Titus Carisius, an ally of Julius Caesar. The obverse features a bust of Juno Moneta, the Roman goddess of money, while the reverse displays tools for striking coins, including pincers, a hammer, and dies.

"It's a coin that illustrates the process of coin-making,” said Nigel Mills, a specialist in coins and artefacts at Noonans, highlighting the coin's historical rarity.

Capewell discovered the coin in November 2022 at a depth of eight inches using his Equinox 800 metal detector. He initially detected only a few shotgun cartridges before receiving a promising signal just five metres from his parked car.

Capewell initially detected only a few shotgun cartridges before a promising signal led him to the coin just five metres from his car.

"I didn't realise how rare the coin was until I showed photos to a coin dealer. It has since been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme,” Capewell said.

Capewell plans to split the proceeds with the landowner, using his portion to either invest in a new Minelab Manticore detector or help cover the costs of his upcoming heart surgery.