Hadrian. Aureus; Hadrian; 117-138 AD, Rome, c. 121-4 AD, Aureus, 7.13g. BM-99, RIC-59, C-1084 (150 Fr.), Strack-89 (the BM coin and 3 others), Calicó-1321 (same dies). Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN - HADRIANVS AVG Head laureate r. Rx: P M TR - P COS III Hercules, holding club resting on ground and apple, standing front, head r., between two standing female figures, all three of them within a flat-roofed temple; below the temple, river god reclining r. and prow. The reverse depicts a temple of Hercules of Gades in Spain, appropriate for an emperor whose family came from that province. A contemporary type showing a similar Hercules standing alone, with prow and river god at feet, is explicitly labeled HERC GADIT (BMC 274, pl. 51.21).Several variants of this type occur, of which ours with the two divinities flanking Hercules in the temple and with the river god and prow in exergue is the most elaborate. Very rare. VF