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Sestertius - Hadrian // EXERC BRITANNICVS S C
| Issuer | Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Year | 130-133 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 25 g |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The emperor Hadrian on horseback, advancing to the right with his right hand raised in a gesture of adlocutio, addressing a group of five soldiers standing before him who carry four legionary standards. The military scene, known as an exercitus type, conveys imperial authority over the provincial armies. The senatorial authorization mark S C (Senatus Consultum) appears in the field, with the legend distributed across the exergue and field. |
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| Additional information |
The EXERC BRITANNICVS types belong to a series Hadrian issued commemorating his provincial tours, including his visit to Britain around 122 AD — the trip directly associated with the commissioning of Hadrian's Wall. The legend acknowledges the army of Britain specifically, part of a broader propaganda effort to present the emperor as a hands-on commander who had personally reviewed and reinvigorated each provincial garrison. These address coins were struck some years after the actual visits, making them retrospective rather than contemporary celebrations.
The British legions had been in a troubled state before Hadrian's arrival; the Historia Augusta vaguely alludes to serious military disorder in the province, possibly including significant Roman casualties.