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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2251100, member: 57495&quot;]I&#039;m usually more into the reverses of coins than the obverses, but in this case I really did pick this one up for the bust type.&nbsp; It&#039;s a small detail, but I found it interesting - the strap of a balteus (sword belt) across Hadrian&#039;s right shoulder and chest. </p><p><br /></p><p>From a CNG sale description: &quot;This rare portrait type shows Hadrian wearing a balteus, a belt used to suspend a sword. This rare variety was missed by both the cataloguers of RIC and RSC.&quot;&nbsp; My seller&#039;s tag has a little more information: &quot;cited by both BMC and Strack-110 from a single specimen in the Reka Devnia hoard.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>The balteus, also known as a baldric, used a strap slung obliquely across the shoulder to support a sword worn at the waist.&nbsp; Where other emperors may have favored decorated or bejeweled sword belts, <i>Historia Augusta</i> purports that Hadrian &quot;generally wore the commonest clothing [and] would have no gold ornaments on his sword-belt&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>Do feel free to post any bust varieties you especially like. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]445504[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>HADRIAN</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>3.23g, 20.9mm</p><p>Rome mint, AD 119-122</p><p>RIC 82 var. (bust type); BM 164 note</p><p>O: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, balteus (sword belt) strap over shoulder and across chest.</p><p>R: P M TR P COS III, Concordia seated left, holding patera. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s a bust of Trajan showing him wearing a balteus. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]445506[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And for those interested, Zach Beasley&#039;s Hadrian page has an illustrated overview of Hadrian bust types at the top:</p><p><a href="http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImperial/II/Hadrian/Hadrian.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImperial/II/Hadrian/Hadrian.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImperial/II/Hadrian/Hadrian.htm</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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