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Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 6.86 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 128-circa 129. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / COS III, Hadrian, Roma, and Genius of the Senate group: On right, Hadrian, togate, standing left, extending right hand, holding short scepter in left; on left, the Genius of the Senate, togate, standing right, extending right hand, left hand at side; Roma, helmeted and in military dress, standing right behind and between them, holding vertical spear in left hand and with right draws right hand of Hadrian toward that of the Senator. RIC II.3 934; Strack 216β; Calicó 1212 (same dies as illustration); cf. BMCRE 506-7; Biaggi 585 (same dies). Edge smoothing and marks, a few minor minor scuffs and hairlines, residual luster, die break bisects the reverse. Near EF. Wonderful reverse composition. Struck on a broad flan. Extremely rare, possibly the second recorded example.
Hadrian, throughout his reign, was at pains in his official propaganda to pay homage to the Augustan concept the Principate, in which emperor and senate ruled jointly. On the reverse of this lovely aureus, which closely follows a famous sculpture group now in the Musei Capitolini in Rome, Hadrian is shown being greeted by the Genius of the Senate and the female figure of Roma. The harmonious image is at odds with reality: Hadrian’s relations with the senate were frequently rocky, if not openly antagonistic. As a young man he gave a speech in the senate and was mocked for his Spanish accent, which may have set the tone. Later he became the protogé of the Emperor Trajan and seemed marked out for the succession, but he was not formally adopted until Trajan lay on his deathbed in August, AD 117. The transition proved rough, and four distinguished ex-consuls were summarily executed for plotting a coup. Hadrian also abandoned many of Trajan’s over-ambitious conquests and engaged in a policy of retrenchment and consolidation, which was unpopular with the expansionist wing of the senate. Consequently, Hadrian never really felt comfortable in Rome and spent most of his 21-year reign traveling.
The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.
Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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