P. Aelius Hadrianus lost his father at age ten and was placed in the care of guardians, one of whom was future emperor Trajan. He embarked upon a military career and, in A.D. 100, he married Trajan's grand-niece Sabina. He was adopted by the emperor shortly before the Trajan's death. Hadrian greatly improved the defenses of the frontiers and is best known as builder of the great wall in northern England. He was one of the most capable emperors and he devoted his rule to improvement of the empire. His rule is considered to have been firm and relatively humane, and he was a patron of the arts.
After Trajan's death in A.D. 117, Hadrian used the title PARTHICVS, but abandoned his adopted father's conquests as too difficult to hold.
Click on coin catalog links to view images:
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Hadrian A.D. 117-138 |
|||
| BMC 33 | aureus | IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO AVG DIVI TRA PARTH F / DIVI NER NEP P M TR P COS | Concordia seated L, holding pateria; CONCORD in exergue |
| BMC 34 | aureus | " | Fortuna seated L, holding rudder and cornucopiae; FORT RED in exergue |
| BMC 35 | aureus | " | Sol bust rad. dr. R; ORIENS in exergue |
| BMC 44 | aureus | IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO OPT AVG G D PART / DIVO TRAIANO PATRI AVG | Trajan bust R |
| BMC 75 | aureus | IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG / P M TR P COS II | Sol bust rad. R; ORIENS in exergue |
| RIC 3c BMCRE 6 |
denarius | PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS PP / | Trajan and Hadrian stand. clasp hands, ADOPTIO in exergue |
| BMC 2 | denarius | IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER DAC / PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS P P |
Trajan stand. delivering globe to Hadrian stand. L |
| BMC 7 | denarius | " |
Trajan and Hadrian laur. stand. facing one another clasping hands, ADOPTIO in exergue |
| BMC 9 | denarius | " |
Concordia seated L, holding patera and resting R hand on Spes, cornucopiae under throne |
| BMC 10 | denarius | " |
Fortuna seated L, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae; FORT RED in exergue |
| BMC 11 | denarius | " |
Justitia seated L, holding patera and vertical sceptre |
| BMC 13 | denarius | " |
Pax stand. L, holding branch and cornucopiae |
| BMC 9n | denarius | IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER DAC / PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS P P | Concordia seated L on throne holding patera in lr. and resting L on figure of Spes on low base; under throne, cornucopiae; CONCORD in exergue |
| BMC 17 | denarius | IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO AVG DIVI TRA / PARTH F DIVI NER NEP P M TR P COS | Concordia seated L, holding patera and resting arm on Spes; cornucopiae under throne; CONCORDIA in exergue See also BMC 18 |
| BMC 27n | denarius | " | Pax stand. L, holding two corn ears and cornucopiae, also BMC 28 |
| BMC 20 | denarius | " | Fortuna seated L, holding rudder and cornucopiae; FORT RED in exergue |
| BMC 24 | denarius | " | Justina seated L, holding patera and sceptre, IVSTINA in exergue |
| BMC 30 | denarius | " | Pietas stand. L, raising R arm; PIETAS flanking |
| RIC 534a BMC 1101 |
sestertius | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER / DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P | Trajan stand. R handing globe to Hadrian stand. L; S C in exergue |
| RIC 534b | sestertius | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F HADRIAN OPT AVG GER / DAC PARTHICO PM TRP COS P P | Trajan stand. R, handing globe to Hadrian stand. L; both are togate; S C in exergue |
| BMC 1104 Image |
sestertius | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER // DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P / S C / CONCORDIA | Concordia seated L holding patera in R and resting L on statuette of Spes; below throne, cornucopiae |
| BMC 1105 | sestertius | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER / DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P S C FORT RED | Fortuna seated L holding rudder in R and cornucopiae in L |
| BMC 1120 | sestertius | IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG / DIVVS TRAIAN AVG PARTH PATER | Trajan seated L, holding branch and sceptre |
| BMC 1106 | dupond | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER / DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P S C CONCORDIA | Trajan stand. R handing globe to Hadrian stand. L |
| BMC 1105 var | dupond | " | " |
| BMC 1107 | dupond | IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER / DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P CONCORDIA | Concordia seated L, holding patera |
| BMC 1113 RIC 541c |
dupond | IMP CAESAR DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG / PONT MAX TR POT COS | Fortuna seated L holding rudder in R and cornucopiae in L; in exergue FORT RED / S C |
| C 1182 | as | IMP CAES DIVI NERV PARTH PONT MAX TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG / PONT MAX TR POT COS II | three legionary standards, S C in exergue |
| BMC 1119 | as | IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG / PONT MAX TR POT COS II | Legionary eagle between two standards |
| BMC 1117 | as | IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG / PONT MAX TR POT COS II S C | " |
| ANS 1944.100.65736 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ / ΔΕΜΑΡΧΗ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ 3 | eagle stand. R, head L on leg and thigh (Antioch) |
| ANS 1944.100.65733 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ / ΔΕΜΑΡΧΗ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Β | " (Antioch) |
| ANS 1944.100.65734 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ / ΔΕΜΑΡΧΗ ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΣ | eagle stand. R on thunderbolt, head L (Antioch) |
| ANS 1944.100.54532 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ / ΤΑΡΣΕΟΝ ΜΕΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΟΣ | Tyche of city stand. L on throne holding palm branch in R; to L, river god Kydnos swimming L, wreath border (Tarsus) |
| SGIC 1270 | AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ / ΣΑΒΕΙΝΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ ΑΔΡΙ ΤΑΡΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΟΣ | bust of Sabina R, crescent at shoulder (Tarsus) On obv. Π Π before bust. Also see BMC 21.188, 153 |
| ANS 1944.100.54531 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ / ΤΑΡΣΕΟΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΟΣ | Tyche of city stand. L on throne holding palm branch in R; to L, river god Kydnos swimming L, wreath border (Tarsus) |
| ANS 1944.100.54536 |
AR tetratdr | " | Sandan stand. R on horned lion R; he wears on L side bow-case, sword and quiver, holds bipennis and wreath in L and raises R (Tarsus) |
| ANS 1941.131.918 |
AR tetratdr | " | Lion L atacking bull kneeling L (Tarsus) |
| SGIC 1229 | AR tridrachm? |
ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ / ΤΑΡΣΕΟΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΟΣ | " (Tarsus) |
| ANS 1944.100.65735 |
AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ / ΔΕΜΑΡΧΗ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ 3 | eagle stand. R, head L on leg and thigh (Antioch) Also see BMC 304ff |
| SGIC 1225 | AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ / ΑΔΡΙ ΜΟΨΕΑΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΩΣ | eagle stand. facing, wings spread, head R; altar between its legs. (Mopsus) On obv. Π Π before bust |
| SGIC 1269 | AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ Θ ΤΡ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕ / ΣΑΒΕΙΝΑ ΣΕΒ ΑΔΡΙ ΜΟΨΕΑΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΩΣ | bust of Sabina as Artemis R, quiver behind shoulder. (Mopsus) On obv. Π Π before bust. Also see BMC 21.106, 14 |
| SGIC 1237 | AR tetratdr | ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ / ΔΕΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Β | eagle stand. facing, wings open, on animals' legs (Antioch on the Orontes). Also see BMC 20.87, 304 |
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
The images are used by permission of their copyright owners. See the Coins of Rome about Parthia index page for a listing of these generous individuals, dealers and institutions.
This page last updated 23 Feb 2021
|
|
|
