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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;IdesOfMarch01, post: 2319683, member: 39084&quot;]Hadrian, known as one of the five good emperors, was born on January 24, 76 AD to a Hispano-Roman family.&nbsp; His predecessor as emperor was Trajan, who was a maternal cousin of Hadrian’s father.&nbsp; Trajan was said to have named Hadrian his successor immediately before his death, according to Trajan’s wife Pompeia Plotina.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hadrian was a devoted student and lover of Greek culture, and in fact he was the first Roman emperor to grow a beard (other than Nero’s somewhat on-again, off-again beard as portrayed on his coins), symbolizing his philhellenism (love of Greek culture) since Greek philosopher Dio of Prusa had equated the wearing of beards with Hellenic ethos.</p><p><br /></p><p>He also considered himself a great intellectual and artist, dabbling in many fields including architecture, and (prior to becoming emperor) is believed to have submitted designs for the Pantheon to the building’s architect Apollodorus, to which Apollodorus replied “Go away and draw your pumpkins.&nbsp; You know nothing about these problems.”&nbsp; The dismissive term “pumpkins” seems to refer to Hadrian’s various architectural drawings of domes.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hadrian is considered by most historians to be a wise and just ruler, although he could sometimes be cruel and petty (he is said to have put the architect Apollodorus to death after becoming emperor, but this story is thought to be apocryphal).&nbsp; In the inimitable (and verbose) prose style from <i>A Dictionary of Roman Coins</i>, first published in London in 1889:</p><p><br /></p><p>“His extreme addiction to sensual pleasures to the extent of indulgence in propensities not to be named, nor, even to be alluded to, was a foul and detestable blot upon his character.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Nevertheless, at least one historian describes the Hadrian period as part of the “happiest era of human history.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Hadrian is well known for his traveling as an integral part of governing his vast empire.&nbsp; He visited Britannia and the West in 122 AD, building Hadrian’s wall in the north of England to “separate Romans from the barbarians.”&nbsp; In 123 – 124 he visited Africa, Parthia and Anatolia, followed by a visit to Greece in 124 – 125 AD.&nbsp; These travels are memorialized on his aurei, with various reverses symbolically depicting the countries he visited.</p><p><br /></p><p>Although not part of my 12 Caesars focus, this particular aureus of Hadrian caught my eye for its stunning portrait quality and light toning. I missed this coin at last year’s NAC auction -- the picture in the catalog did not do justice to the light toning -- so I paid a premium for it this year.&nbsp; In addition, the historical reverse (she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus) is one of my favorites and is depicted on long history of Roman coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>While Galba’s bronzes may be the apex of Roman coin art on AEs, Hadrian’s aurei might be the high point of art on Roman gold, with the possible exception of Nero’s aurei, which display a similarly high level of artistry.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]468628[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D.</p><p>AV Aureus (6.87 g.)&nbsp; Rome ca. 124 - 128 A.D.&nbsp; RIC II 193d</p><p>HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate bust right, drapery on l. shoulder.&nbsp; Rev. She-wolf stg. Left, suckling romulus and Remus; COS above, III in exergue.&nbsp; Biaggi 598</p><p><br /></p><p>Let&#039;s see how many she-wolf reverses can we represent![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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