This tetradrachm was struck in Alexandria in 137-138 AD, the last year of Hadrian's 21-year reign, and the last year of his life. As his health declined, the most important order of business for Hadrian (who was childless) was to name his successor and make sure that his dynasty would continue on long after he was gone. That year, Hadrian adopted not only his own successor, but ultimately chose the next two generations of emperors. Hadrian’s brilliant choices for succession would go on to rule for the next 42 years, through some of the most prosperous times in the history of the Empire. This coin fits well with the themes of Hadrian looking forward and passing the torch to the next generation(s). Hadrian, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.68 g), RY 22 = 137/8. 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. The figure on the reverse is Pronoia, the nymph/goddess of Foresight. This is believed to be the first time that Pronoia ever appears on Roman coinage, which may be the reason why her name (ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ) is actually spelled out on the reverse. Pronoia is holding a Phoenix in her hand, the mythical bird who would famously die and have the next generation reborn from his ashes. The phoenix is a powerful symbol of rebirth and continuity among generations, and was used to show that the new emperor was something of a "re-birth" of his predecessor. The idea of projecting a smooth, seamless transition after the death of a ruler would continue on as an important theme for many centuries (i.e., "The King is dead, long live the King!"). Hadrian had actually used the image of a phoenix 20 years earlier to project his own legitimacy at the beginning of his reign. The aureus pictured below (not mine) is one of the first coins that Hadrian issued after taking over as emperor following Trajan's death. The coin has the recently deified Trajan on the obverse, and a phoenix is prominently featured on the reverse. The implication seems clear; Hadrian was linking himself to his extremely popular predecessor, and projecting himself as a rebirth of the great Trajan. RIC II 28(Var)., Struck under Hadrian, 117-118AD, DIVO TRAIANO PARTH AVG PATRI, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right./ Rev. No legend, Phoenix radiate, standing on laurel-branch, right. (photo courtesy of CNG). In the last year of his life, after the death of his adopted son Aelius, Hadrian had to decide on a new plan of succession. He ultimately selected Antoninus Pius to succeed him, and adopted him as his son. This was a brilliant decision, as Antoninus ruled for the next 22 years and is widely viewed as one of Rome’s greatest emperors. But Hadrian took things a step further to cement his legacy, and cut a deal with Antoninus Pius. As a condition of being adopted as Hadrian's successor, Antoninus had to agree to adopt two young curly-haired kids: his 17-year old nephew, and the 7 year-old son of the late Aelius. While this seems like a questionable move, Hadrian's foresight once again turned out to be right on point. The teenager he required Antoninus to adopt was later known as the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the 7 year-old boy was Lucius Verus. After a lengthy "apprenticeship" under Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius would go on to rule for the next 19 years after the death of Antoninus, with Lucius Verus as his co-emperor for the first 8 years. The coin below (which I coincidentally won at the same auction as the Hadrian tet), shows Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus early in their joint reign. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare. 161-169 AD, AE Diassarion (25 mm, 9.08 g), Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right; to right, ΙΟΥ. Rev. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to right;. RPC online IV.3 9010 Please share your coins featuring a phoenix, Pronoia, anything related to dynasties or succession, or anything else relevant!
