Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. Orichalcum sestertius. 26.45 gm. 31 mm. 'Travel series' issue ('Provinces cycle'). Rome mint. Struck A.D. 130-138. His bareheaded and draped bust right; HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P / Hadrian standing left, holding volumen and raising up kneeling Hispania who shoulders olive branch; rabbit between them; RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE around, S C in exergue. RIC II.3 1866. RIC II 954. Near Very Fine; bold portrait; brown patina; cleaning marks below bust; old marks on Hadrian's bust, with a few similar marks on reverse (a contemporary political statement/damnatio memoriae?). Pleasing example. Scarce.

This collection of early Roman Imperial bronze was formed by an American collector in the Midwest, buying coins in the 1950's from major London coin houses. He affixed collector 'H' numbers written in ink on lacquer on many of the coins. We have correspondence dated in 1950 and 1951 with Leonard Forrer at Spink & Son, Ltd. and William French at Glendining & Co. Ltd. in London, as well as Earle K. Stanton in Los Angeles, Paul S. Seitz in Pennsylvania, and Edward Gans, Numismatic Fine Arts in New York City.