This coin is neither rare nor does it illustrate any historical event in the reign of Hadrian. It's just pretty. The coin is difficult to date because the legend P M TR P COS III was used for many years (AD 117-138). Mattingly, on the basis of comparing portraits to dated types, divides up coins with this titulature into three main periods: (a) AD 119, (b) late AD 119-121, and (c) AD 121-138.[1] He assigns this coin to group B, AD 119-120 or 121.[2] The terminology is a bit confusing because in RIC, he and Sydenham had previously classified these coins as "Group A-II, AD 119-121."[3] However, David Sear,[4] probably citing Philip Hill,[5] assigns it to AD 124. The British Museum currently does not make any attempt to date the coin beyond AD 117-138 as indicated by the P M TR P COS III titulature. The coin comes with four bust types: (1) laureate head, right [RIC 601a; BMCRE 1235; Cohen 1043], (2) radiate bust, right, with drapery on left shoulder [RIC 601b; BMCRE 1231-1232], (3) radiate and draped bust, right [RIC 601c; BMCRE 1233-1234; Cohen 1044] and (4) radiate and cuirassed bust, right [not listed in RIC, BMCRE, or Cohen]. This coin bears the third bust type. The personification on the reverse, Pietas, symbolizes what Gnecchi describes as "reverence for the gods, devotion to the Emperor, affection between the Augusti or between the Augustus and the people, tenderness of parents to sons, respect or affectionate care of the latter for their parents, and in general, love of one's neighbour."[6] The reverse inscription, PIETAS AVGVSTI, in the Latin genitive case, means, "the pietas of the Augustus," e.g. Hadrian's pietas. Let's see your bronzes of Hadrian, Pietas types, or anything you feel is relevant! Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman Æ dupondius, 13.78 g, , 26.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, ca. AD 119-124. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III, radiate and draped bust, right. Rev: PIETAS AVGVSTI, Pietas, veiled, draped, standing facing right before a lighted altar, raising her right hand and holding a box of incense in her left. Refs: RIC 601c; BMCRE 1233-34; Cohen 1044; Strack 542; RCV 3665; Hill 257. ~~~ Notes: 1. Mattingly, Harold. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, British Museum, 1966, pp. cxxviii-cxxix. 2. ibid, p. 413. 3. Mattingly, Harold and Sydenham, Edward A. The Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. II: Vespasian to Hadrian, London, Spink, 1926, pp. 315, 322, 413. 4. Sear, David R. Roman Coins and Their Values II: The accession of Nerva to the Overthrow of the Severan Dynasty AD 96 - AD 235, London, Spink, 2002, p. 165. 5. Hill, Philip V. The Dating and Arrangement of the Undated Coins of Rome, A.D. 98 - 148, London, Spink, 1970. 6. As quoted in Sear, op. cit., p. 40.
Excellent write up and fantastic coin as always @Roman Collector ! It is indeed a beauty. Here is my Pietas Sestertius from Hadrian showing a praying Pietas. Roman Empire Hadrian (AD 117-138) AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 134-138 Dia.: 31 mm Wt.: 22.77 g Obv.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate and draped bust right Rev.: PIETAS AVG, Pietas standing left, praying with hands upraised at altar to left; stork to right, S-C across fields Ref.: RIC II 771
Thanks for the fine prose @Roman Collector - and that certainly is a nice example of a radiate crown on that dupondius.
An attractive dupondius for sure @Roman Collector ! I am very under Hadrian, this is all I can muster in AE. Hadrian 117-138 AD Æ Drachm (35mm, 15.4g) Dated yr 2 (117/8 AD) Alexandria Laureate bust right, slight drapery. / Nilus reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia; below; L B (date) in ex. Köln 760.
I see nothing wrong with pretty. This does bring up a question I often ask but rarely like my answer if I have one. We have many 'special' coins and even more generic reverse types of which very few are easy too explain. A few might align with a historical event or a record of an illness of the Emperor (that generates a Salus or Aesculapius type). Today, changing a coin design requires an act of Congress but the Romans seemed to have dozens every year. We comment on the one that fit a propaganda message but why were there not more types with meaning? The entire concept of reverse types with special meaning and even multiple types at one time died along with the 'Fall' of the Empire. Why? If it were something related to the rise of Christianity, I might have expected a change of types but not the end of what seemed like a good way of communicating with the coin handling public. Medieval coins barely have types beyond crosses and simple figures until the Renaissance brought in large and fancy coinage. Has anyone seen anything written on the subject? Opinions?
I have always had a hard time reconciling the persona of Caligula with that of Pietas - especially with descriptions like the foregoing of Gnecchi. RIC Vol. I, CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 51, 40-41AD, (35mm, 26.2gm) Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, seated left Obverse Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP In exergue: PIETAS Reverse depiction: Caligula standing left holding patera over altar - attendants (victimarius) on either side holding bull for sacrifice - hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus festooned with garlands in background. Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right)
As on your Hadrian dupondius , mine has also the long legend with Trajan mentioned.Hadrian used that legend only early in his reign. till 122 AD Pietas on Faustina I , his adoptive daughter in law:
Dupondius of Hadrian Rv Pietas stg right sacrificing over altar RIC 601var 124 A.D. 12.47 grms 25 mm Very cool When i bought it in 2004 it was listed as a 601b I checked it but left it as is View attachment 988782
Interesting! Make that FOUR bust types! Yours has a radiate and cuirassed bust right, which is unlisted in RIC, BMCRE3 and Cohen. I have edited my OP to reflect this new bit of information. Here are the three types that are listed: RIC 601a/BMCRE 1235 -- radiate head right (British Museum specimen). RIC 601b/BMCRE 1231 -- radiate bust, right, with drapery on left shoulder (British Museum specimen). RIC 601c/BMCRE 1233 -- radiate and draped bust, right (my collection). And the type that is not listed: RIC 601 var. -- radiate and cuirassed bust, right (@Terence Cheesman collection).
I believe that this is an unlisted bust type - I also have an example which I will try to post. Blake
Did the OP's coin come from Naumann? (sp). Seems several of their coins come with yellow "soil." Not certain of the seller. Getting old. But one of them frequently display coins with that yellow stuff.
It was from Triskeles Auction 12 at V-auctions. It was described as being from the Charles Darrah collection.
It is a mystery and something that hasn’t been brought up before. The Byzantines - who of course were really Romans - got out of the habit of using coins to send messages as well - the use of coins send messages or inform the population or to celebrate events became more limited as the years went on. Perhaps it is the lack of direct connection between Rome and the issuing authority they just lost the habit - it could be as simple as they forget that coins could be used that way.?? Or maybe the issuing authorities didn’t trust those in charge to get it correct? Or a general narrowing of vision as the population became less literate? It is an interesting issue that needs more research.
