Hadrian               117 - 138 A.D.

 

Hadrian was the cousin of Trajan with whom he had a rocky love-hate relationship. However, his relationship with Trajan turned out to be less consequential to his own rise to becoming emperor. It is widely thought that Trajan himself never actually selected Hadrian as his successor but his powerful aunt, who was very fond of Hadrian and took the role of surrogate mother, forged documents to the effect when Trajan was on his deathbed. Hadrian is remembered chiefly by his active role in the military, by the prolific building of all sorts of city and military improvements, by being a shrewd economic strategist as well as for his infamous homosexual relationship with a boy named Antinous.

 

AE As 117--138 A.D.

26 mm. ca. 133 A.D.

Obv. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS: Laureate head right

Rev. COS III S C: Galley under oars

C. 446, Van Meter 117/1

AE As 117--138 A.D.

26 mm.

Obv. HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. AFRICA S C: Figure of Africa reclining left on the ground, holding a scorpion and cornucopiae, a basket at her feet

RIC 841, Van Meter 114

AR Denarius 117--138 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. PM TR P COS III/FEL P R: Felicitas seated left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae

RIC120, RSC 600A, Van Meter 47/5

AE Sestertius 117--138 A.D.

32 mm. ca. 131 A.D.

Obv. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. FELICITATI AVG COS III PP S C: Galley under oars left, with a palladium at prow, with legionary eagle and two standards at stern

C. 657, SR-1113, Van Meter 81

AE As 117--138 A.D.

17.34 g., 26 mm.

Obv. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. PM TR P COS III S C: Pax standing left with olive branch and cornucopiae

RIC 18, C. 1142, Van Meter 121

AE Dupondius 117--138 A.D.

27 mm.

Obv. IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG PM TR P COS III: Radiate and draped bust right

Rev. VIRTVTI AVGVSTI S C: Virtus standing right

RIC 605, Van Meter 111

AR Denarius 117--138 A.D.

18 mm. ca. 133 A.D.

Obv. HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP: Laureate head right

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

C. 1481, Van Meter 60