ANCIENT ROMAN SESTERTIUS, TRAJAN, 114-117 AD, RIC 671 ~ FELICITAS, CORNUCOPIA

Description

Nice ancient Roman orichalcum sestertius of Trajan, 98-117 AD, struck 114-117 AD.  Rome Mint.  Approximately 24.4 grams and  32.5 mm to 34 mm (min/max) diameter.  Attractive and striking portrait.  Some reverse scrapes.
OBVERSE: IMP CAES TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI P P, laureate draped bust right  REVERSE: SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS, S-C across fields, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
RIC 671
Feel free to ask questions or request additional photos.  Grades, comments and attributions that I offer are not those of a professional grader.  Please verify attributions and use your own judgement in making decisions to purchase.
Virtually all ancient coins are ground recoveries.  Therefore some form of cleaning is necessary and can include soaking, scrubbing, picking and chemical action, depending on the degree of encrustation.  Coins that must be heavily cleaned are often darkened by natural or chemical means to improve the appearance.  Finally, coins are often waxed with microcrystalline wax (standard British Museum practice) to help protect them from moisture and environmental contaminants.  This also helps to protect them from bronze disease.  The wax gives the coin a soft glow, but can be removed with acetone or hot water if desired.