Description
Caesar Traianus Hadrianus, Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty 117-138 AD, Silver Denarius (3.34g, 18mm), Travelling Series – Personification type, ‘Alexandria’, Rome mint 130-133 AD. Obverse: Bare head of Hadrian facing to the right, legend surrounds, “HΛDRIΛNVS ΛVG COS III PP”. Reverse: Alexandria stands facing to the left, draped in stola and holding sistrum aloft in right hand and resting basket in left arm from which serpent emerges, legend surrounds, “ALEXANDRIA”. RIC II-1502. Minorly off centre on the obverse although the legend still clear, toned and evenly worn, good Fine.
Alexandrīa was the Roman personification of the great city of Alexandria. The city was founded by the Macedonian King Alexander III ‘the Great’ in April of 331 BC as Ἀλεξάνδρεια (‘Alexándreia’), and would serve as the capital city of the successor Ptolemaic Kingdom following the Wars of the Diadochi. In 30 BC, Egypt fell to the Roman Republic following the defeat of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator in the Wars of Actium, ending the Ptolemaic dynasty. Egypt remained Octavian’s personal property for several years before officially becoming an Imperial province in 27 BC with the formation of the Principate, and would go on to become an essential aspect of the Roman economy, serving as a major producer of grain and an important geographical position to facilitate trade through the Red Sea. Much like the Ptolemies, Alexandria would serve as the capital of Prōvincia Aegyptus, governing the area which covered much of modern-day Egypt which bordered the Senatorial Prōvincia Crēta et Cȳrenaica to the west and Prōvincia Arabia Petraea to the east. After visiting Greece for the second time, the first in 124 AD, Hadrian travelled through Prōvincia Ā̆sia and arrived in Egypt in August of 130 AD – here he restored Pompey the Great’s tomb at Pelusium, and whilst his entourage sailed down the river Nile, his lover Antinous drowned. The ‘AEGYPTOS’, ‘NILVS’ and ‘ALEXANDRIA’ issues could be considered part VII, ‘Greece, Asia, and Egypt’, of his travelling series.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Hadriānus Augustus, cōnsulāritās tertium, Pater Patriae”, with an English translation of “Hadrianus Augustus, honoured with the office of Consul for his third term, Father of the Nation”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Alexandrīa”, naming Alexandria, the personification of the great city and capital of Aegyptus.