Hadrian, 117-138 Aureus Rome circa 124-125, AV 20.00 mm., 7.25 g.

HADRIANVS - AVGVSTVS Laureate bust r., drapery on l. shoulder. Rev. COS / III, Sol in quadriga l. C 293. RIC II.3, 726. Jameson 107 (this coin). Calicò 1210 corr. (this coin illustrated).

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.

Bold portrait and Good Very fine



Ex Bertolami Fine Arts 8, 2014, 560; Künker 257, 2014, 8963 and Gorny & Mosch 228, 2015, 615 sales. From the Jameson collection.