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Denarius - Hadrian P M TR P COS III HILAR P R, Hilaritas
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 120-121 |
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| Value | 1 Denarius |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | Standing figure of Hilaritas, veiled and draped in a long stola, depicted facing front at center of the reverse field, her raised arms adjusting her veil with both hands in a gesture of joyful ceremony. The figure is rendered in fine relief with flowing drapery characteristic of Hadrianic artistic style. The reverse legend is distributed around the periphery of the field, referencing Hadrian's titles and the personification of the joy of the Roman people. |
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| Mint | Rome |
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| Additional information |
Issued in the early years of Hadrian's reign, this denarius belongs to a remarkable propaganda campaign the emperor launched after a deeply troubled accession. The execution of four senior senators in 117 AD — carried out, Hadrian claimed, without his knowledge — poisoned relations with the Senate from the start. The Hilaritas type, invoking public joy and good cheer, was part of a broader coinage program designed to rehabilitate his image and project an atmosphere of civic contentment his reign had not yet earned.