HADRIAN

Reigned: 117-138 A.D.

  PVBLIVS AELIVS HADRIANVS, born in Rome in 76 to Domitia Paulina and Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, became the ward of Trajan when Afer died in 86. Through Plotina's influence Hadrian was named as Trajan's successor, becoming Augustus on August 11, 117. He immediately abandoned most of Trajan's eastern conquests, and returned to Rome in mid-118. He spent the years 121-125 and 128-134 touring the provinces. He ruled wisely and well until his final two years when a lingering illness took its toll. He died on July 10, 138, was deified, and buried in the mausoleum which he had built in Rome.(From MONETA, Available from www.numus.com)

 

The Denarii

Silver Denarius (18.8mm, 3.25gr), Struck 122 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate head right, draped left shoulder

Rev: P M TR P COS III Oceanus reclining left, on dolphin in crab claw, holding anchor.

RIC 75, RSC 1109, Sear 3518   Tom Mullally Collection

Silver Denarius (18.6mm, 3.16gr), Struck 125 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate head right, draped left shoulder

Rev: PM TR P COS III PV-DIC Pudicitia standing facing veiled, right hand on breast, other hand at her side.

RIC 135b, RSC 1209a, Sear 3532     Tom Mullally Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.3gr), Struck 126 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head right

Rev: COS III Neptune right with foor on prow holding a trident and dolphin

RIC 155, RSC 307a      Joe Mastrario Collection


Silver Denarius (19.3mm, 2.8gr), Struck 126 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head right.

Rev: COS III Neptune standing left holding trident and acrostolium, foot on prow.

RIC 158c, RSC 309a, Sear 3470 var     Tom Mullally Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.07gr), Struck 132 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS II P P Laureate head right

Rev: FELICITATI AVGVSTI Galley sailing left.

RIC 240, RSC 712, Sear 3491    Kevin Ingleston Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.19gr), Struck 137 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bare head right

Rev: MONETA AVG Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia.

RIC 256a, RSC 963, Sear 3507 var.    Tom Mullally Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm), Struck 134-138 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP Laureate head right

Rev: VOTA PVBLICA Hadrian standing left, veiled as a priest and sacrificing over an altar

RIC 290d, C.1481-4, Van Meter 60    Harry Stewart Collection



Silver Denarius (18.5mm, 3.50gr), Struck 128 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P Laurate bust right

Rev: COS III Minerva standing right, holding spear and resting on shield

RIC 330, Sear 3468     Andrew Thall Collection


Silver Denarius (18.6mm, 2.79gr), Struck 117-138 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P Laureate and draped bust right.

Rev: TRANQVILLITAS AVG COS III Tranquilitas standing left holding long scepter and leaning on column.

RIC 367e, C. 1438, BMC 526   Tom Mullally Collection


The Sestertii

Orichalcum Sestertius (34mm, 24.59gr), Struck 119-122 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG. Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder.

Rev: PONT MAX TR POT COS III S - C; in ex: ANNONA AVG. Annona standing left holding corn-ears and cornucopia, altar at feet, prow to right.

RIC 565, Sear 3576 var, Cf. VM 90.   Mark Lehman Collection



Orichalcum Sestertius (34mm, 24.59gr), Struck 126 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS. Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder.

Rev: COS III S - C. Neptune standing left, right foot on prow, holding aplustre and trident (an homage to the coins of Agrippa)

RIC 635, Sear 3584, VM 71/2.   Mark Lehman Collection



Orichalum Sestertius (31mm 25.69gr), Struck 131 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate and draped bust right

Rev: IVSTITIA AVG P P COS III SC Justitia seated left holding scepter and patera

RIC 711, BMC-1429, Sear 3605  Kevin Ingleston Collection

Orichalum Sestertius (32mm, 24.67gr), Struck 136 A.D in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP Hadrian, his laureate and draped bust right

Rev:ADVENTVI AVG THRACIAE S C Hadrian, togate, std r, right hand raised holding roll , facing Thracia, std l, sacrificing out of a patera in her r. hand over a flaming altar between. Thracia wears a short tunic, her left hand by her side, A victim behind the altar.

RIC 907f, Sear 3569, Van Meter 64/15    Jan de Veen Collection



The Dupondii



Orichalcum Dupondius (27mm), Struck 119-121 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III Radiate bust right

Rev: PIETAS AVGVSTI S C Pietas standing right making offering at altar

RIC 601a,  Cohen 1043  Kevin Ingleston Collection


The Asses

AE As (27mm, 10.78gr), Struck 118 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NER TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG. Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder.

Rx: PONT MAX TR POT COS III; in ex: SC. Legionary eagle between two standards.

RIC 546b, Sear 3689, VM 122.   Mark Lehman Collection



Copper As (26mm, 11.22gr), Struck 121-2 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Hadrian, his laureate and draped bust right

Rev: P M TR P COS III, S C Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopiae

RIC 616c, Van Meter 121    Jan de Veen Collection



AE As (25mm), Struck 125-128 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head right

Rev: COS III S C Galley under oars right

RIC 673, C. 446, Van Meter 117/1    Harry Stewart Collection


AE As (24mm), Struck134-138 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP Draped and laureate bust right

Rev: AFRICA S C Africa seated left on ground, holding scorpion and cornucopia, a basket at her feet

RIC 841, Van Meter 114    Harry Stewart Collection

The Fractions


Copper semis (18.8mm, 4.24gr), Struck 125-8 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laurate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right

Rev: COS III S C Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and spear; behind shield

RIC 685, Sear 3700     Andrew Thall Collection

Antinous, Favorite of Hadrian


AE Hemidrachm (28mm, 12.27gr), Struck 135-6 A.D. in Alexandria.

Obv: ANTINOOV HPWOS sigma. Bare-headed draped bust right.

Rx: L - I theta (=yr.19=135/6A.D.) Antinous as Hermes, on horse pacing right, holding caduceus.

Emmett 1347, Cf. SGI 1337.   Mark Lehman Collection