Reference. RIC cf535b (SC in ex.); BMC cf 1104 same; Strack cf502 same; Banti 145 ( 1 example) Obv. IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER, Laureate, heroically nude bust right, baldric (sword) strap around neck and across chest, loop on shoulder, seen from front Rev DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P, CONCORDIA and S C in field Concordia seated left on throne, cornucopia at side, holding patera and resting elbow on statuette of Spes standing left set on low basis. 24.78 gr 35mm h From CNG When he became emperor following the death of Trajan in 117 AD, questions immediately arose regarding the validity of Hadrian's succesion. Although it is clear from Hadrian's early career and marriage to Sabina (Trajan's grand-niece) that the emperor brought his young kinsman within the imperial court, Trajan, unlike Nerva before, made no move to adopt Hadrian formally, instead possibly preferring others. This fact prompted Hadrian, in the early days of his reign to emphasize his legitimacy to the succession. Hadrian declared Trajan divus and ordered his ashes installed in the Column of his newly complete Forum. Trajan's name and titles were incorporated into the new imperial nomenclature, a privilege reserved solely for legitimate heirs. At the same time, coins were struck to associate the new reign with the previous administration and declare a peaceful transferral of power. The legend of our sestertius, DAC PARTHICO (in the dedicatory dative), clearly refers to Trajan, while the Concordia reverse type (to date, uncommon with the addition of Spes), emphasized by the inclusion of CONCORDIA in the exergue, demonstrated Hadrian's potential willingness for the time to continue Trajan's policies, thereby insuring continued political harmony, something which disintegrated as Hadrian's reign progressed.
My only Hadrian Sestertius: HADRIAN AE Sestertius OBVERSE: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate bust right, draped far shoulder REVERSE: HILARITAS P R S-C, COS III in ex, Hilaritas standing facing holding palm & cornucopia, two small children flanking her Struck at Rome, 128-134AD 25.30g, 35mm RIC 970
What amazes me as a newcomer to ancient coins is that many are relatively cheap. Is this because they are not rare or because they are not gold or silver?
Hey John, welcome to the forum. Demand is everything, as in all markets. There are of course many ancient coins that are in high demand and therefore quite expensive. But these is also a sea of coins for which the demand is quite low - and you'll find yourself paying much less for some ancient coins than you will for many moderns.
Like @Orfew I do not have a Hadrian Sestertius either, just my Denarius... Roman Empire Hadrian AD 117-138 AR Denarius 17.1mm, 3.34g Rome mint Obv: Bare Head r Rev: Salus standing r, feeding snake coiled around alter. RIC 267
It's often said that there is nothing more common than a "rare" coin. Most people here have rare coins, and many of us have unique coins. There are 3rd century Roman coins of Constantine and his family that are "rare" because the campgate on the reverse has an extra row of bricks, or there's a tiny star in the left reverse field, or a particular sub-type is rare for a particular officina (workshop), but common in the other officinae in a common mint. But who cares - except the very specialised collector who is probably glad not to have much competition bidding for his/her prize. Rarity is sometimes important however: the portrait series of Roman emperors is widely collected - which is why the rare emperors sell for very high prices (I think i saw a Romulus Augustus solidus in the current batch of auctions, with an estimated price in the hundreds of thousands). For ancient silver coins that are cheap and have a certain "wow" factor - i recommend the big sasanian silver drachms. There aren't many collectors of these, yet they are impressive pieces.
Big Sasanian silver drachms sounds like just my kind of coin. I just started looking at world and then ancient coins. USA coin prices are so predictable.
This coin was from Ebay Lanz, i payed about 235 euro, allot for 1 coin but not on a sestertius from Hadrian. the information came from CNG auction.
You got a good deal. Yours has an exceptional heroic portrait. I buy from Lanz occasionally, he's generally pretty good.
