Denarius of Hadrian

The silver denarius of the Emperor Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus, lived 76-138; reign 117-138) was made between 119 and 122. It is well preserved, the images and inscriptions on both sides are still clearly visible. The obverse features a depiction of the right profile of the emperor, with a beard, wearing a laurel wreath. On the rim of the obverse, there is the inscription IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG. The reverse shows the goddess Pax seated on a throne, facing right, in a draped dress. In her right hand she holds up a miniature representation of Victoria, the goddess of victory. Her left arm is lowered, and she holds an olive branch in her hand. The rim shows the inscription P M TR P COS III. In Roman mythology, the goddess Pax, a daughter of Jupiter and Justitia, is the personification of peace, prosperity and justice. She appears on the Roman coins from the mid-first century until the reign of Constantine the Great in the years 306-337. This denarius was found in 1839 by a farmer during fieldwork. It was most likely a part of a larger, destroyed and scattered hoard of Roman coins. This is evidenced by the three other Roman coins found in close proximity: another denarius of Hadrian and two denarii of Antoninus Pius.

Bartłomiej Rogalski