Hadrian's visit to Judaea in 130 AD came just years before the province erupted in the Bar Kokhba revolt — the most catastrophic Jewish uprising against Rome, which ultimately led to the expulsion of the Jewish population from Jerusalem and the renaming of the province to Syria Palaestina. The Adventus series, of which this is a provincial example, was struck to commemorate Hadrian's extraordinary grand tour of the empire's eastern provinces, an itinerary that included Egypt, Asia Minor, and Judaea itself.
The timing is historically charged. His visit to the ruins of Jerusalem and his announced intention to rebuild it as the Roman colony Aelia Capitolina are widely considered among the triggers for the revolt of 132–135 AD.
Hadrian's visit to Judaea in 130 AD came just years before the province erupted in the Bar Kokhba revolt — the most catastrophic Jewish uprising against Rome, which ultimately led to the expulsion of the Jewish population from Jerusalem and the renaming of the province to Syria Palaestina. The Adventus series, of which this is a provincial example, was struck to commemorate Hadrian's extraordinary grand tour of the empire's eastern provinces, an itinerary that included Egypt, Asia Minor, and Judaea itself.
The timing is historically charged. His visit to the ruins of Jerusalem and his announced intention to rebuild it as the Roman colony Aelia Capitolina are widely considered among the triggers for the revolt of 132–135 AD.