Hadrian, securing the transition of power

Transitions between emperors could be risky times, and Trajan had not clearly defined his successor. We are only a week away from the day that Trajan died, August 8 or 9 in AD 117. On his death bed, he named Hadrian as his successor - at least that is what the letter signed by Plotina said. Hadrian was 41-years-old and decisively took control, and had he not, there might have been another period like AD 69, with 4 emperors competing for the throne, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.

I have a few coins of Hadrian. I wasn't looking for more, when this historically interesting coin turned up. This is a very early issue of Hadrian securing his transition as successor to Trajan. This coin lacks the word added later, "ADOPTIO", in exergue. However, on this coin the words "DIVI TRAIAN AVG F" declares Hadrian as "son of deified Trajan". Also worth noting that this coin inappropriately carries over the titles of Trajan for Hadrian (e.g. OPT GER DAC PARTH) - titles later not included on coins of Hadrian.

Hadrian, AD 117-138, AR denarius (18.9mm, 3.32g, 7h), Rome mint, struck AD 117
Obv: IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER DAC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS P P Trajan presenting globe to Hadrian, each holding scroll
Ref: RIC II 2c p.338

You can find a nice write-up of this transition here. And an article on the aureus which might provide additional evidence that Trajan intended Hadrian as his successor.

Share your coins of Hadrian, coins from transitions in power, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.

 

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I'm a big fan of Hadrian. He has some of the greatest portraiture on Roman coins in my opinion. This is one of the best portraits in the entire FF collection. It reminds me of a CIRCAM.

Trajan
Denarius
114-117 AD
Obverse: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI, laureate draped bust right
Reverse: PM TRP COS VI PP SPQR, Genius or Bonus Eventus standing left, holding patera and corn ears

 

Beautiful coin! I have been meaning to pick up either this type, or the more popular ADOPTIO, which are just about the only way to pick up a budget coin with Divus Trajan before the Decian issues more than a century later. Interesting note is that Hadrian looks almost beardless, although I don't think I have ever seen a clean-shaven Hadrian.

Here's my earliest Hadrian, although still a far cry from an actual transitional issue

 

Here's an early one with the so-called "heroic bust":


Hadrian, AD 117-35.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.10 g, 17.7 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 118.
Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust, right, with drapery on left shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P COS II, PIETAS across fields, Pietas, draped, standing facing left, raising her right hand and placing her left arm on her breast.
Refs: RIC 45a; BMCRE 82; RSC 1027; Strack 39; RCV --.

See the cover of this mystery novel set in Roman Britain:

 

Nothing's special, only my latest acquisition from this Emperor, the only denomination that was missing from him.

Hadrian Ae As
Rome 27mm 12.32g
RIC 579b
Ex. @Valentinian

 

Great and historical relevant coin, @Sulla80. I've also read your first link with great interest. That blog is a very usefull resource. I only have 10 coins of Hadrian, and one of Aelius. I will show two below:

The earliest coin I have, from his reign:


And one from his 'travel-series' coinage:

 

This coin of Hadrian is like the coin in the original post except this one includes the word "ADOPTIO" in exergue.
19 mm. Struck 117.
BMC 7 but no photo. RIC 3e.

ex Empire Coins auction 6, lot 374, November 14, 1986.

I think this is the only Roman coin type to explicitly mention adoption. A photo of this much of the coin is enough to identify it. It is an historically important type from the period of "the adoptive emperors."

 

Thanks @Valentinian, I was hoping one of those would surface! It certainly takes identifiable by the reverse to an extreme.

 

Here is a tet from the last year of Hadrian’s reign. The phoenix on the reverse likely represents the transition of power to the next generation of the dynasty.


Hadrian, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.68 g), RY 22 = 137/8 AD. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙC ΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right./ Rev. ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ / L ΚΒ Pronoia standing front, head to left, holding Phoenix in her right hand and scepter in her left. RPC III 6252.

 

Nice coin and write-up, @Sulla80! It's interesting to see the different Hadrian portraits posted here. Here are two other examples:



Hadrian as Caesar (117-138 AD). Denarius. Rome mint. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, Bare head right / VOTA PVBLICA, Hadrian, draped standing left, holding a patera over tripod altar, left, sacrificing. 18.4 mm. 3.4 g.




IONIA. Ephesos. Hadrian (117-138 AD). AE. Hadrian laureate head right. / Statue of Artemis Ephesia facing within temple. 21 mm. 5.89 g.

 

I can't believe I biffed the first reply to this by posting Trajan...oof. At least he was Hadrian's adopted father.

Here is one of my 2 Hadrians. He has almost no resemblance to a Roman coin portrait of him and he has quite the nose.

Hadrian
AR Hemidrachm
Caesaria, Cappadocia
Dated year 5 (121/2 AD)
Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: Nike walking right, holding wreath and palm; ET E (date) in right field

 

Several sestertii and a couple of denarii of Hadrian. first and last are early in his reign.

 

Interesting thread and some great coins.

I think this is my earliest Hadrian, based on the DIVI (twice - but obliterated on this poor specimen) in the obverse inscription:

Hadrian Æ As
(118 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI] NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG, laureate,
draped, cuirassed bust right /PONT M[AX TR P]OT COS II SC aquila between two standards
RIC II, 3 157 (old RIC 546A).
(12.04 grams / 27 x 25 mm)

For a "transition of power" coin from the other end of Hadrian's reign, I recently got this sestertius of Antoninus Pius as Caesar, issued under Hadrian (it has a Hadrian RIC number), bare head, no "AVG" no "PIVS":



Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius
(138 A.D.) as Caesar
Rome Mint
IMP T AELIVS CAE[SAR ANTONINVS], bare head right / TR[IB POT COS], S-C, PIETAS in exergue, Pietas standing right raising hand and holding incense box over altar.
RIC II.3 2747 (RIC 1082).
(22.57 grams / 29 x 27 mm)

 

Hadrian, AE drachm, Nilos reclining.

Egypt, Alexandria - Hadrian. (117-138)
Year 127-128

Type: AE Drachm, 32mm 24.42 grams

Obverse: AVT KAI TPAI AAPIA CEB, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: LDW (delta) EK in exergue, Nilos reclining left upon a crocodile, holding cornucopia and reed, Genius emerging from the cornucopia and pointing at letters IS in upper field

Reference: Milne 1269





The coin is quite historical and commemorates Hadrian’s arrival in Egypt in the year 130-131.




Hadrian. 117-138 AD.

Æ Drachm, 36mm, 22.1g, 11h; Alexandria, Year 15 = 130/1 AD.

Obverse: AVT KAI - TRAI AΔPIA CEB; Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed right.

Reverse: Alexandria kisses the hand of the arriving emperor; he is laureate and togate, stands left, extends right hand to Alexandria and holds scepter in left; she stands right wearing elephant skin headdress, guides the emperor's hand to her mouth with her right hand, and holds two wheat ears downwards with her left hand; in lower field L - IE.

Reference: Cologne 1034; Emmett 964/15.

 

HADRIANUS


RI Hadrian CE 117-138 AR Denarius Salus stdg feeding Snake

 

I'm glad to see a new thread with Hadrian ! , there haven't been many opened in the last four months..... , an emperor that I like.

Hadrian AE Sestertius. Rome, AD 119-121. RIC II 586c
IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III, laureate, draped bust right / MONETA AVGVSTI, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. S-C across fields.

 

@Sulla80

Here are two by the same seller and of the same emperor

 

How about any Quinarius?


RI Hadrian 117-138 AR Quinarius Victory holding palm



RI Hadrian AR Quinarius 1.30g, 14mm Rome, AD 119-122 cuirassed laureate COS III Victory seated wreath palm RIC 108a

 

Who would want to Hadrian

nice catch, on the globe you can see it's Zodiac belts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac