A new Hadrian

Hadrian, was one of the more "photogenic" emperors, numismatically speaking. Marcus Aurelius was another such emperor, whose coinage portraits spanned his life, from handsome youth to an elderly man with a scraggy "philosopher's" beard (he was a noted philosopher of stoicism).

Here are a couple of Alexandrian drachms of Hadrian that I picked up, post-auction, earlier this year.

Hadrian Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 18 = AD 133/4. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Nilus reclining left, holding reed and cornucopiae; crocodile below, L IH (date) above. RPC -; Dattari (Savio) 1787; Emmett 1014. 24.14g, 34mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine.

I love the reverse on this one.



The following example is from the early years of his reign.

Hadrian Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 2 = AD 117/8. [ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ] ΤΡΑΙAΝΟϹ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ CЄB, laureate head right, slight drapery over far shoulder / Nilus reclining on hippopotamus left, holding reed and cornucopiae, LB (date) below. RPC 5025; Dattari (Savio) 7747 var. (obv. legend); Emmett 1015. 23.88g, 35mm, 1h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare; RPC cites only one example.

I guess that's a hippo on the reverse, or a very odd pig!

 

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Here's another early Hadrian from 117.



Hadrian (Augustus)
Coin: Brass Sestertius
IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
PONT MAX TR POT COS S C FORT RED - Fortuna, draped, seated left on low seat, holding rudder on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left
Exergue: FORTRED
SC



Mint: Rome (117 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 24.86g / 33mm / 6h
References:
RIC II Hadrian 541a
Cohen 756
Provenances:
Marcantica
Acquisition/Sale: Marcantica VCoins $0.00 05/19
Notes: May 19, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection