Hadrian. AD 117-138. Dupondius or As, Rome, 132-134. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian to right. Rev. COS III P P / S C Hadrian, in military dress, with cloak flying behind him, on horse prancing right, holding spear in rest in right hand. BMC 1452. Cohen 495. RIC 717. An outstanding coin, with remarkable detail, untouched patina and original surfaces. Creating a coin for the Emperor, using the finest artisans can be seen in the detail, down to the saddlecloth of a leopard skin, which would account for the rather irregular shape. Tied in front of the horse's chest, which helped on the security/slippage front. The reins. Interesting but not at all easy to explain. The lower of the loops goes round the neck but does not go to the horse's mouth - the lower loop isn't part of the rein at all but is a neckstrap for the rider to grab in an emergency or during battle. Hanging onto the reins, double or single, in an emergency is a bad idea, as it results in the horses getting a jag in the mouth, which could really hurt if the bit is severe (often the case with warhorses). Horses tend not to react well to an unexpected yank in the mouth and the rider is more likely to end up on the floor than save and already tricky situation. Reins are never to provide support for the rider's balance, only for control of speed and direction. "Sitting on the reins" is a fault of beginners! There are neckstraps depicted on some coins of Pharsalos - though perhaps these are decorative "garlands" rather than functional. Or a bit of both? I would expect a neckstrap, however, to lie further down the neck where it joins the chest. One thing - there is what appears to be a third strap (or part thereof) extending from the mane towards to the right level with the horse's jowl - about the same distance from the top "rein" as the latter is from the bottom "strap".
That is a wonderful coin and I'll bet Oki will be jealous (unless he has one in his enormous collection of Hadrian coins). I'll thrown in one of mine: HADRIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right, draped left shoulder REVERSE: P M TR P COS III, Aeternitas standing front, head left, holding the heads of the sun and moon Struck at Rome, 119-121AD 3.0g, 18mm RIC 115, C 131
Not provincial? . I love Provincials. SwK, if you are interested, we currently have two very long ongoing threads for both Hadrian Provincials and Hadrian Imperials. You may wish to add your coin to the latter .
Another cool OP-winner (congrats on your recent pickups) Ummm, Hadrian ... okay!! Provincial? ... => I gots myself an eagle, a flyin' horse and a snake (that's how I sort 'em)
