Ancient - Greek & Roman，ROMAN EMPIRE: Trajan, 98-117 AD, AV aureus (7.07g), Rome, 103-111 AD, RIC-93, laureate and draped bust right, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P // Trajan standing left, scroll in left hand, extending right hand to two children standing with their arms raised toward him, COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, ALIM ITAL in exergue, VF. Alimentary grants (alimenta) were a form of state support for citizen children promulgated by Nerva and expanded under Trajan. Unlike previous grain doles, which were privately funded and limited to the capital, the new initiative represents a serious attempt at state-funded subsidy at regular intervals for children all across Italy. In one locality, records indicate that boys received 16 sestertii per month, whereas girls received 12 sestertii. Trajan must have taken pride in the alimenta that coins were issued in gold, silver and bronze to commemorate his achievement. This program continued under his successor and lasted into the mid-3rd century.
