Glyphic (Inscriptional) Serif vs Trajan

Trajan evolved from Glyphic (Inscriptional) Serif — the archetypal inscriptional Roman capital.

Type specimen — Glyphic (Inscriptional) Serif (Inscriptional serif); set in Cinzel (OFL)

Glyphic (Inscriptional) Serif

Type that recalls letters chiselled in stone rather than written with a pen. Triangular, flaring serifs and a carved, monumental quality root it in the Roman inscriptional capital.

  • Small, triangular, flaring serifs (incised, not slab)
  • Moderate contrast with tapering stroke ends
  • Carved, lapidary quality recalling stone-cut letters
  • Classical Roman capital proportions
  • Often capital-only, with minimal or no lowercase
Full Glyphic (Inscriptional) Serif guide →
Type specimen — Trajan (Glyphic / inscriptional); shown in Cinzel, a close match (OFL)

Trajan

Carol Twombly's 1989 all-capitals titling face, drawn after the Roman inscription at the base of Trajan's Column. Monumental, classical, and inescapable on film posters and book jackets.

  • Capitals only — no lowercase
  • Small, triangular, flaring (incised) serifs
  • Moderate contrast with subtly modelled strokes
  • Classical Roman inscriptional proportions
  • Wide R with a long, gracefully curving leg
Full Trajan guide →

At a glance

Glyphic (Inscriptional) SerifTrajan
EraRoman antiquity; revived 1900s–present1989
DisciplineTypographyTypography
RegionAncient Rome, Europe, United StatesUnited States
FamilySerifSerif
Formal traitsglyphic, incised, flared-terminal, low-contrastglyphic, incised, flared-terminal, low-contrast

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