Description
Caesar Traianus Hadrianus, Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty from 117-138 AD, Silver Denarius (3.37g, 19mm), Travelling Series, Rome mint 132 AD. Obverse: Laureate head of Hadrian facing to the right, legend surrounds, “HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP”. Reverse: Aegyptus reclined facing to the left, draped in stola and holding sistrum aloft in right hand and resting left arm on basket, stork stands to the left facing right, legend surrounds above, “AEGYPTOS”. Sear-3456; RIC-297; RSC-99. A choice rendition from the famous travelling series, struck in commemoration of Hadrian’s travels to the province of Egypt between 128 and 130 AD, nicely toned, some minor deposits, otherwise good Very Fine.
Prōvincia Aegyptus was a Roman province covering much of modern-day Egypt, except for the Sinai, and bordered Cyrenaica to the west and Judaea, which was later annexed as Arabia Petraea, to the east. Hadrian arrived in Greece in 128 AD and focussed his attention on Athens and Sparta – here, Hadrian further planned his panhellenic dream, although this would take some time and departed for Egypt, travelling through the province Asia. Arriving in August 130 AD, Hadrian restored Pompey the Great’s tomb at Pelusium, and while his entourage sailed down the Nile, his lover Antinous drowned.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Hadriānus Augustus, cōnsulāritās tertium, Pater Patriae”, with an English translation of “Hadrianus Augustus, with the honour of the holding the office of Consul for his third term, Father of the Nation”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Aegyptōs”, naming the Roman province of Egypt as well as the allegorical representation seen on the reverse.