Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.22 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late AD 120-121. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 556. Estimated: $ 3 000

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 9 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.22 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late AD 120-121. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Mars, in military dress, cloak over left arm, wearing crested helmet, standing facing, holding reversed vertical spear and resting hand on shield set on ground to right. RIC II.3 319; Calicó 1312a (this coin illustrated). Some scratches on reverse, minor edge marks. VF.

Ex Sternberg XXVI (16 November 1992), lot 320; Conte Alessandro Magnaguti Collection (Part III, Santamaria, 26 June 1950), lot 194.

Publius Aelius Hadrianus, born to an aristocratic family in Roman Spain, lost his biological parents by AD 86 and became the ward of the future emperor Trajan, another Spaniard. As a young man, Hadrian began a career in the Roman government and military, and in about AD 100 married Sabina, a favored great-niece of Trajan. He also cultivated the friendship of Trajan’s wife Plotina. Though widely regarded as a favorite for the succession, Hadrian was not formally named Caesar until Trajan fell fatally ill in Cilicia while returning from his great eastern campaign. It was not a universally popular choice, and rumors immediately spread that Hadrian’s adoption was stage-managed by Plotina after Trajan had already died. Hadrian, serving as governor of Syria, took immediate action to secure the throne, inducing the eastern legions to acclaim him as emperor by means of a hefty bonus. He then wrote to the Senate declaring his accession a fait accompli, but requesting his formal designation as emperor along with the deification of Trajan. With no real alternative, both requests were readily granted.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Two – Lot 309-594 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM 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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