Trajan, Rome mint, 112-114 AD.,
Denarius (ø 18-19 mm / 3,20 g), silver, axes about coin alignment ↑↓ (ca. 190°),
Obv.: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P , laureate bust of Traian right, drapery on his left shoulder.
Rev.: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI / VIA TRAIANA , woman (Via Traiana) / goddess reclining left on rocks, holding branch and wheel.
RIC II, p. 263, no. 266 (scarce) ; Coh. 648 ; BMC 487 ; Strack 179 ; CBN 671 .
This reverse type commemorates the "Via Traiana", a road which ran from Brundisium to Beneventum and served as an important link from the core of the Empire to the East. Built 108-110 AD. from the emperor's personal funds, the Via Traiana created a shorter route from Beneventum to Brindisi. According to Strabo, it saved a whole day traveling compared to the old route, the "Via Appia".
So the Via Traiana was an extension of the Via Appia from Beneventum, reaching Brundisium by a shorter route. This important road was constructed at Trajan’s own expense, and was commemorated on his coinage and with an arch at Beneventum.
Strabo indicates correctly that travelling to Beneventum from Brundisium on the Via Traiana was a good day shorter than the old Republican road, the Via Appia. Although the actual measurement shows the Via Appia to be 203 miles and the Via Traiana to be 205 miles from Beneventum to Brundisium, the difference lies in their topography. There are a number of severe hills and the terrain along the Via Appia is difficult until it reaches Venusia which is about 66 miles away from Beneventum. In contrast, although the Via Traiana does encounter equally demanding inclines as well in the first 40 miles from Beneventum, there is not another serious hill all the way to Brundisium.
The Via Traiana Nova (previously known as the Via Regia) was an ancient Roman road built by the emperor Trajan in the province of Arabia Petraea, from Aqaba on the Red Sea to Bostra. It was specifically known as the Via Traiana Nova in order to distinguish it from the Via Traiana in Italy. It is occasionally also referred to simply as the 'Via Nova' or 'Via Nova Traiana' Its construction started shortly after the annexation of Arabia, supervised by governor Gaius Claudius Severus, and completed under Hadrian.
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