Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Hadrian, 117 – 138. Aureus, Roma 119-122, AV 7.26 g.

Description: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN – HADRIANVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust l. Rev. P M TR – P COS III Roma helmeted seated l. on cuirass, holding Victory in r. hand and spear in l.; behind, shield and quiver.

References: C 1104 var. (not draped and cuirassed)
BMC –.
RIC 77d var. (no bow and quiver)
Mazzini 1105 (this coin)
Calicó 1335 (these dies)
Condition:An apparently unrecorded variety of a very rare type. An unusual and interesting left facing portrait struck in high relief. Lovely reddish tone, almost invisible marks, otherwise extremely fine
Provenance: NAC 38, 2007, Conneisseur of Portraiture, 58
Ira & Larry Goldberg sale 59, 2010, 2452
From the Mazzini collection
Note: Hadrian was an enigmatic figure composed of equally good and bad qualities. At times he could be incredibly cruel and calculating, like when early in his reign he executed several ex-consuls for allegedly conspiring against the throne, even though upon his accession he had promised never to execute a member of the senatorial order. At other times, he showed great sophistication in his understanding of the needs of the Empire. To start, he reverted the expansionist policies of his predecessor Trajan by pulling back some of the more ambitious borders, and then better fortifying them. He also made a virtual career of traveling throughout the provinces to administer his rule first-hand, which clearly had many positive effects.