Roman Empire Hadrian AD 117-138 Silver Denarius NGC VF Travel Series HISPANIA Denarius of Hadrian, “RESTITVTOR HISPANIAE” For generations, Hadrian’s ancestors were wealthy landowners in southern Hispania (Spain), so the province had a special significance for him. Obverse: The obverse shows the head of Hadrian, bearded, wearing a laureate crown and facing right, with drapery visible on his left shoulder. Legend: On the left edge of the coin, curving around the back of the head “HADRIANUS” is written. On the right edge of the coin, curving along the edge are the words “AVG COS III P P” meaning ‘Augustus, consul for the third time and father of his people.’ Reverse: The reverse of the coin shows a togate Hadrian (right), raising up Hispania (left) with his left hand and holding a scroll in his right. Hispania is kneeling and holding a palm branch against her left shoulder with her left hand in her lap and her right hand clasped in Hadrian’s. Her hair is pulled back into a bun at the back of her neck. A rabbit sits between them. In stature the two figures are equal, superiority is indicated primarily by Hadrian’s standing position vs. Hispania’s kneeling position. Legend: RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE. Travel Series- HISPANIA is one of the most overlooked in the series. Hadrian, who succeeded his adoptive father Trajan to the throne upon the latter’s death in AD 117, had the luxury of ruling in the middle of what is now considered to be a golden age, when five so-called “good emperors” reigned. Hadrian was the most Hellenistic (i.e. a devotee of Greek culture) of all Roman Emperors, and this heavily influenced how he spent his regnal years. The relative lack of military action during Hadrian’s reign left him free to pursue other goals, notably the construction of many public works and extensive political tours throughout his Empire. Indeed, Hadrian spent far more time traveling the provinces than he did in Rome during the two decades of his rule. To commemorate his travels and spread valuable political propaganda, Hadrian issued coins with various reverse types related to these journeys. Hadrian was remarkable even amongst the so-called “good emperors” of his era; he is remembered even today for his famously wide-ranging journeys, the advantageous by-product of an uncommonly peaceful time in Roman history. Coins that commemorate his journeys are prized by collectors of ancient coins, as they are physical pins on an imaginary map of Hadrian’s Empire, now almost two thousand years gone. Capstonecoins Austin Texas