January 24th: the traveling Emperor

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, Jan 23, 2021.

  1. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Hadrian was born the 24th January 76 AD. He was the the cousin and successor of Emperor Trajan, and was a cultivated admirer of Greek civilization and he also unified and consolidated the vast empire of Rome. He was the third of the so-called five good emperors. One of his principal achievements was to fix the boundaries of the Roman Empire notably by building the wall across Northern England that bears his name.

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    Another one of Hadrian's contributions to history was the beard. The portraits of emperors up to this point were all clean shaven, idealized images of Greek athletes. Hadrian wore a beard, as evidenced by all his portraits. Subsequent emperors would be portrayed with beards for more than a century and a half.

    35ECA5F4-20AF-4EAA-82B7-3AFBF1B0778A.jpeg

    Much of Hadrian's reign was spent traveling. Even prior to becoming emperor, he had travelled abroad with the Roman military, giving him much experience in the matter. Out of twenty one years of reign between 117 AD and 138, he spent about fourteen years on the roads, undoubtedly visiting nearly fifty different cities. The resources deployed to ensure his stewardship are considerable, since it is estimated that Hadrian's retinue consists of around five thousand people. Tertullian said of him that he was curiositatum omnium explorator.

    2679ECEA-D311-4DD8-A66F-F92CA89DCE8E.jpeg

    Hadrian's temple in Ephesus

    He had reigned for 21 years, the longest since Tiberius. Another 24th of January was also very important for him: that of the year 138 AD, where he designated Antoninus Pius as his legitimate successor. Hadrian finally died in this same year July 10th in his villa in Baiae at the age of 62.
    I believe every Roman coins' collectors I know own at least one example of Hadrian's coinage ( the only exception is @Okidoki ). So please show us your coins of the traveling Emperor !

    Hadrian
    denarius
    46AA3779-69F7-49FD-9C1B-E4B24D847BE3.jpeg

    Hadrian As
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    Hadrian Sestertius
    A1E5145D-03C5-45FA-A476-D0917EB1E65A.jpeg
     
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  3. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Very cool! What an incredible major historical event that time makes us forget, On This Day in History!
    Here's some of my coins of the travelin' man:
    20190728_101530_B4C42FB1-430F-40FA-959B-4775DBF37594-1718-0000026E01DA58F6.png
    share4664841476067502333.png
     
  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    I only have 2 coins of Hadrian but I really love them:

    Hadrian
    Semis
    Obverse: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right
    Reverse: COS III S-C, lyre.
    Hadrian Semis COS III.jpg
    Hadrian
    AR Hemidrachm
    Caesaria, Cappadocia
    Obverse: AVTO KAIC TΡAI AΔΡIANOC CEBACT, laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder
    Reverse: no legend, Victory walking right, bearing wreath.
    Hadrian Hemidrachm 1.jpg
     
  5. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    My newest denarius, also happened to be from Hadrian! features Aequitas.
    hadrian aequitas.png
     
  6. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    A tribute to one of the considered "good" emperors. Yes , Hadrian can be considered good, but he could also be quite mercurial as well...

    here are three sestertii, followed by three dupondii in his honor...

    942956.jpg 2670404.jpg nc9L7tA4fa8DZen32Fyop6QJWpj5Wr.jpg z73D8tQ2Ndw4m7TpyD9GLmw6j2P8Cq.jpg 1708.jpg 867331.jpg
     
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  7. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Those dupondii have absolutely amazing busts!
     
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  8. IMP Shogun

    IMP Shogun Well-Known Member

    Very nice coins.

    Great coins, pics and write-up, thank for starting it up Ocatarinetabellatchitchix.

    Here's my contribution, maybe a couple drinks worth of pocket change in ancient Rome:

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  9. Clonecommanderavgvsvs

    Clonecommanderavgvsvs Well-Known Member

    He always was my favorite emperor. I have no coins of him but I have a thing for emperors who visited/had major involvement in britannia.
     
  10. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    Also the day Caligula got assassinated, so here are both.

    Hadrian (10 Aug 117 AD–10 July 138 AD), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 137 AD, Sear 3540 (3.2 g, 19.5 mm)

    Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, Bare-headed bust of Hadrian right, with light drapery on right shoulder

    Reverse: SALVS AVG, Salus standing right, right hand extended, feeding snake arising from altar from patera held in left hand
    694C72D2-31EA-4A27-A450-1055A1CCF2EE.jpeg

    Gaius Caligula (16 Mar, 37 AD- 24 Jan, 41 AD), Æ As, 37-38 AD, RIC I 38, Sear 1803 (9.95 g, 28 mm)

    Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT (Caius Caesar, Emperor, Conqueror of Germania, Supreme Priest, Holder of Tribunic Power), bare head left

    Reverse: VESTA above, S C across field, Vesta seated left, holding patera and sceptre
    AE751947-29EF-48FC-997E-FF379D3200FB.jpeg
     
  11. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

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

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    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 --.

    And don't forget Sabina!

    [​IMG]
    Sabina, AD 117-137.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.28 g, 19.4 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, AD 128-134.
    Obv: SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, diademed and draped bust, left.
    Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter.
    Refs: RIC 401b; BMCRE 909 note; RSC 37a; RCV --; Strack 370; CRE 56.
     
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Man needs a ship for all that travelling...

    Hadrian 3130249.jpg HADRIAN
    AE As. 10.26g, 25mm. Rome mint, AD 125-127. RIC II.3 820. O: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right. R: Galley rowed right by three oarsmen, at the stern is a hortator and an arched cabin under a curved aplustre, at the bow a mast raking forward with flag and sails attached; COS III above, S C in exergue.
    Ex Simon Shipp Collection

    Africa:
    Hadrian africa c400.jpg
    Hispania:
    Hadrian Hispania.jpg
    Egypt:
    Lot - Hadrian Aegyptos.jpg

    Asia:
    Hadrian - Travel Asia.jpg

    Germania:
    Hadrian - Travel Germania.jpg

    Italia:
    Hadrian - Travel Italia new.jpg

    Nilus:
    Hadrian - Nilus 193.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
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  13. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    I like the history, I like the beard, and I really like the coins!

    Here are my coin from the travel series:
    19.TS.1.png 19.TS.2.png
    19.TS.3.png
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    19.TS.6.png
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  14. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Some lovely coins shown especially the big bronzes! :wideyed:....
    I remember walking sections of the wall and always found it an eerie place! A very difficult border to police especially at night!....Here's my bearded man..

    Hadrian (117- 138). Rome, c. 131-138 AD. Silver Denarius. 2,85 g. 17 mm.
    Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right.
    Rev: FORTVNA AVG, Fortuna standing left holding patera and cornucopiae. VF, old collection patina.....RIC#245A
    HADRIAN BLACK.jpg
     
  15. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    In another life, when we were allowed to travel, I've been lucky enough to visit both Hadrian's wall and Ephesus...

    [​IMG]
    Hadrian, As - Rome mint, AD 126
    HADRIANUS AVGVSTVS, Laureate head of Hadrian right
    SALVS AVGVSTI COS III, Salus standing left feeding snake arising from altar. SC in field
    11.24 gr
    Ref : RCV # 3692, Cohen # 1357

    Q
     
  16. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    As usual I come late to the party so I have to look for something different.

    Left facing Romulo Conditori denarius
    rc1900b01218lg.jpg

    dupondius with only slightly heroic bust
    rc1940bb0700.jpg

    The travel series comes in sestertii, too. This is Aegyptos.
    rc1975fd3391.jpg

    When it come to 'different' it is hard to surpass the fourree brockage denarius.
    rc1980b00211alg.JPG
     
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  18. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    I have just started reading some books about Roman history as I want to brush up on my knowledge. Indeed Hadrian was a trend setter regarding the beard -the first emperor appearing bearded on coins, the previous examples from different rulers were just exceptions.
    It is somewhat unclear why did he choose wearing a beard - could be 1. Greek influence 2. He wanted to mask facial blemishes (I think I read this in Suetonius' 12 Caesars) 3. He just liked it :D

    I wear a beard for 4 years now, main reason is that my long hair is now a memory so I have to compensate.

    I don't have any coins from the travel series (they are on my wish list), but I have a Denarius, an As and a provincial from Hadrian.

    upload_2021-1-24_15-42-43.png

    Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome Mint 134-138 AD.
    Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right.
    Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on low seat, shield at her side, holding palladium and spear. 18mm, 3.30g
    http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2_3(2).hdn.2341-2342

    upload_2021-1-24_15-51-7.png



    RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 881-887
    From Date: AD 126 To Date: AD 127
    Legend: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS
    Legend: COS III // S C (in field)
    Type: Salus standing right, rarely leaning on column, holding snake and feeding it from patera

    upload_2021-1-24_15-53-10.png

    https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/1805
    Obverse inscription ΑΥΤΟ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ
    Obverse design laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r.
    Reverse inscription ΝΑΚΡΑϹΙΤΩΝ
    Reverse design Tyche standing l., wearing kalathos, holding rudder in r. hand, cornucopia in l.
     
  19. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    A couple from Alexandria:

    hadrian_alexandria1.jpg

    hadrian_alexandria2.jpg

    hadrian3.jpg

    hadrian4.jpg
     
  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I do not see any QUINARII of Hadrian, so I will toss in mine:

    HADRIAN

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    RI Hadrian 117-138 AR Quinarius Victory holding palm


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    RI Hadrian AR Quinarius 1.30g, 14mm Rome, AD 119-122 cuirassed laureate COS III Victory seated wreath palm RIC 108a
     
  21. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    Interesting coins of Hadrian in thread.
    AE As
    image(1).jpg
    Denarius
    image.jpg
     
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