Denarius - Hadrian ALEXANDRIA, Alexandria

This issue belongs to Hadrian's extensive series commemorating the provinces, struck following his grand tour of the eastern empire between 128 and 132 AD — the most ambitious inspection journey undertaken by any Roman emperor. Egypt held singular administrative status: unlike other provinces, it was governed not by a senator but by an equestrian prefect, a deliberate Augustan policy to keep the grain supply out of senatorial hands. Hadrian visited Alexandria in 130 AD, the same journey during which his favourite Antinous drowned in the Nile, an event that produced its own remarkable coinage from Egyptian mints.