Obolos 13

Hadrian, 117-138. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.27 g, 6 h), Antioch, 117, on his accession to the throne. IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO OPT AVG GER DAC Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right . Rev. PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS P P / ADOPTIO Trajan, on the left, and Hadrian, on right, standing facing each other, clasping their right hands and holding scrolls in their left. BMC 1021. Cohen 4 (Rome). RIC 3c (Rome). RPC III, p. 449. Rare. A pleasant coin of historical interest. Encapsulated in PNG holder no. 4682626-008 XF Strike 4 Surface 4. Extremely fine.

This coin, with its Trajanic-like portrait of Hadrian (albeit bearded), was produced to celebrate the emperor’s accession to the throne. On the reverse we see Trajan clasping hands with Hadrian to indicate their accord and Hadrian was Trajan’s chosen successor (he had been Trajan’s ward since the death of his parents when he was 10). However, it seems very possible that at the time of his death Trajan had still not officially appointed Hadrian as his heir and that the succession was only assured by the intervention of Trajan’s wife Plotina.