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Denarius - Hadrian COS III, Hercules
| Issuer | Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Year | 124-125 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Laureate bust of Emperor Hadrian facing right, rendered in fine high-relief with characteristic beard and wavy hair secured beneath a laurel wreath. The portrait displays the distinctive Hadrianic sculptural style with naturalistic facial features and drapery visible at the truncation. The encircling Latin legend HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS runs around the periphery of the flan, partially visible on this worn specimen. The die work reflects the high artistic standards of the Rome mint during Hadrian's reign. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Hadrian's third consulship, held in 119 AD, continued as a dating formula on coinage well into the 120s — the COS III legend places this piece within a broad issue spanning several years rather than pinpointing a single striking event. Hercules as a reverse type appears with particular frequency under Hadrian, reflecting his personal identification with the hero rather than any programmatic religious policy. He reportedly modeled aspects of his public image on Hercules during his Hispano-Roman upbringing in Italica.
RIC II.3 733 is a product of the 2007 revision that substantially reorganized Hadrian's coinage from the original RIC II, correcting earlier sequencing errors by Mattingly.