AR28 - Hadrian COS III

Hadrian's COS III issues date his third consulship, held continuously from 119 AD until his death in 138 — an unusually prolonged tenure that reflected his deliberate distancing from the aggressive expansionism of Trajan. Where Trajan had stretched the empire to its greatest extent, Hadrian abandoned Mesopotamia almost immediately upon accession and spent roughly half his reign touring the provinces in person, making his coinage unusually diverse in reverse types tied to specific regions and visits.

At 11.12g this falls within the heavier range for Hadrianic denarii, suggesting an early COS III striking before gradual weight reduction across the reign.