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ANCIENT COIN CLUB OF
LOS ANGELES

ACTA ACCLA

COINS OF THE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS

The Five Good Emperors

Nerva | Trajan | Hadrian | Antoninus Pius | Marcus Aurelius

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Hadrian
Publius Aelius Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus
RULED 117-138 CE

Publius Aelius Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus, commonly known as Hadrian, was the third of the Five Good Emperors. Hadrian lived January 76 - 10 July 138, and was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138 CE. Hadrian married his cousin Vibia Sabina in 100 CE.

Trajan apparently named Hadrian as his successor just before he died although Hadrian was never formally adopted.

In 138, Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius as his son and successor.

Emperor Hadrian portrayed on a roman sestertius

Reverse of a sestertius of Emperor Hadrian showing Hadrian standing with hand raised

Hadrian
Rome
RANDY BUTLER

Sestertius (brass, 26.93 g). Struck 119 CE. Obverse: laureated bust of Hadrian right, IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III. Reverse: Hadrian standing with hand raised to receive scepter from eagle, PROVIDENTIA DEORVM S C.
RIC 589; BMC 1203.

Portrait of Emperor Hadrian on a roman silver denarius

Hadrian
Rome
MERRILL GIBSON

Denarius (silver, 3.32 g, 18.7 mm). Struck 119-122 CE. Obverse: laureated bust of Hadrian right, IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG. Reverse: Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia, P M TR P COS III.
RIC II p350, 80; Cohen 1117.

Portraits of Emperor Hadrian and Empress Sabina on a tetradrachm from Alexandria

Hadrian & Sabina
Alexandria, Egypt
MERRILL GIBSON

Billon Tetradrachm (debased silver, 12.71 g, 24.5 mm). Struck 128-129 CE. Obverse: laureated bust of Hadrian right, AYT KAI TPAI ADPIA CEB. Reverse: diademed bust of Sabina right, CABINA CEBACTH LIG.
Geissen 997; Dattari 1249; Milne 1272f.

Portrait of Emperor Hadrian on a bronze coin from Petra

Hadrian
Petra
BOB EFFLER

AE24 (bronze, 11.43 g, 24 mm). Struck about 130 CE and the first coin from Petra to bear a roman imperial portrait. Obverse: laureated head of Hadrian right, AUTOKRATOR CAICAR TRIAINOC ADIANO CEBACTOC. Reverse: Tyche seated left, ADRIANH PETRA MHT ROPOLIC.
Spijkerman 3; SNG ANS 6, 1362.

Emperor Hadrian on a bronze drachm from Alexandria with Athena on the reverse

Hadrian
Alexandria, Egypt
MERRILL GIBSON

AE Drachm (bronze, 29.56 g, 34 mm). Dated regnal year 17 (132/3 CE). Obverse: laureated bust of Hadrian right, AVT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CEB. Reverse: Athena, wearing aegis, standing left, holding grain ears in outstretched right hand and in left hand holding spear, against which shield leans, LI Z (year 17).
Emmett 921; Milne 1359.

Emperor Hadrian on a silver tetradrachm from Alexandria with Serapis on the reverse

Hadrian
Alexandria, Egypt
MERRILL GIBSON

Billon Tetradrachm (debased silver, 12.81 g). Dated regnal year 19 (134/5 CE). Obverse: laureated head of Hadrian left, AUT KAIC TRAIAN ADPIANOS SEB. Reverse: draped bust of Serapis right, L ENN EAK·D.
Köln 1150; Milne 1445; Emmett 889.

Emperor Hadrian on a roman brass sestertius with Felicitas on the reverse

Hadrian
Rome
MERRILL GIBSON

Sestertius (brass, 27.14 g, 32.6 mm). Struck 134-138 CE. Obverse: laureated head of Hadrian right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P. Reverse: Felicitas standing to left, holding caduceus and branch, FELICITAS AVG S C.
RIC II p437, 750; Cohen 618.

CITATIONS, FOOTNOTES & OTHER RESOURCES

1. Hadrian on Wikipedia.