Hadrian Bronze As, RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672

Monetary Context of the Early Hadrianic As

Under the Roman monetary system established during the Augustan reorganization and maintained through the early Antonine era, the as served as the fundamental base unit of daily low-value commercial exchange. Valued at one-sixteenth of a silver denarius and one-fourth of a brass sestertius, the as provided the necessary purchasing power for market transactions, foodstuffs, manual wages, and local retail trade. While the higher denominations of sestertius and dupondius were struck in orichalcum (brass), the as was traditionally manufactured from unalloyed copper or a related copper alloy, distinguished by its redder hue and specific metrological target. By the early AD 120s, the Roman economy under Hadrian enjoyed extensive stability, marked by internal consolidation rather than the outward expansionism of Trajan's reign. The production of base-metal coinages was heavily centralized to meet the demands of urban markets, military payrolls stationed in frontier zones requiring small change, and fiscal expenditures in Italy. Issues such as RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672 functioned alongside earlier Flavian and Trajanic aes denominations that remained in active circulation, reinforcing a consistent standard of value across the empire.

Mint Organization and Physical Production

All official specimens corresponding to RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672 were produced at the primary imperial mint located in Rome. The centralized mint in Rome operated an elaborate system of officinae (workshops) responsible for preparing blank flans, engraving dies, and striking large volumes of coinage across all three metals. Base-metal blanks for the as were prepared by cast flans that were subsequently hammered into circular forms and struck between hand-held upper and lower dies. The metallurgical composition of the as during this period generally remained close to pure copper, though minor trace elements such as tin, lead, and iron are routinely detected in analytical studies of early second-century bronze coins. Weight distributions for middle-bronze issues in the early AD 120s typically clustered around a theoretical standard of approximately 10.5 grams, although variations resulting from rapid mass production were common, causing individual pieces to range between roughly 9.0 and 12.0 grams. The alignment of obverse and reverse dies generally favored a regular vertical or near-vertical axis (six or twelve o'clock), reflective of the systematic mechanical standards enforced by the mint workers of Rome.

Obverse Design and Portraiture

The obverse of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672 presents a right-facing portrait of Hadrian crowned with a laurel wreath. Hadrianic portraiture marked a decisive departure from the clean-shaven aesthetic of earlier Julio-Claudian, Flavian, and Trajanic emperors through the deliberate introduction of a trimmed beard and full, curling hair. This iconographic choice evoked both Greek philosophical ideals and classical military styling. On this specific type, the emperor's portrait is rendered in an austere yet refined imperial style characteristic of the Rome mint during the early AD 120s, exhibiting a firm jawline, prominent nose, and neatly bound wreath ties trailing behind the neck. The truncated neck lacks drapery or cuirass, focusing visual attention entirely on the features and civic authority of the princeps. The surrounding inscription closely frames the head along the beaded outer border, maintaining balanced spatial distribution that emphasizes the emperor's formal titles without crowding the composition.

Reverse Iconography and Symbolism

The reverse design of this type features the standing figure of Pax, facing left, embodying the divine personification of peace and concord. In her outstretched right hand, Pax extends an olive branch, the universally recognized classical symbol of peaceful intent, reconciliation, and the cessation of conflict. Cradled in her left arm is a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, overflowing with fruits and ears of grain to denote the material abundance, agricultural fertility, and economic security that true peace brings to the Roman world. The figure of Pax had long been a central fixture of imperial propaganda, but its deployment under Hadrian carried particular resonance following his decision to withdraw Roman garrisons from the newly annexed territories in Mesopotamia and Parthia at the outset of his reign. By portraying Pax on the widely handled bronze as, the imperial administration justified these strategic retrenchments, signaling to all levels of society that the empire had entered a renewed era of tranquility, order, and domestic prosperity. Flanking the lower fields of the figure are the large letters S and C, denoting Senatus Consulto, the historic marker of senatorial confirmation for the production of public bronze coinage.

Epigraphic Analysis and Titulature

The obverse legend reads IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, rendered as Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus. This formula highlights Hadrian's official lineage as the adopted heir of Trajan, integrating Trajan's name directly into his own imperial nomenclature to solidify dynastic continuity and legal legitimacy. The reverse legend carries the circumscription P M TR P COS III, expanding as Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate, Consul Tertium. The title of Pontifex Maximus signified his role as chief priest and supreme custodian of Roman state religion, while Tribunicia Potestas reaffirmed his traditional role as protector of the plebeians and possessor of civil executive authority. The phrase COS III indicates that the coin was produced during or after Hadrian's third consulship, which commenced in January AD 119. Unlike some subsequent emperors who accepted consulships repeatedly, Hadrian did not assume a fourth consulship, meaning the designation COS III remained a static component of his coinage for the remainder of his principate. The reverse field is inscribed with S C for Senatus Consulto, maintaining the traditional legal fiction that bronze denominations were authorized by a decree of the Senate.

Typology and Chronological Classification

In the second edition of Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC II, Part 3), Richard Abdy and Margherita Taliercio Mensitieri refined the chronology of Hadrian's vast coinage based on die linkages, portrait developments, and subtle modifications in legend formulas. Type 672 is securely dated to the transitional window of AD 121 to 123. It belongs to the broader series characterized by the obverse legend IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG paired with the reverse formula P M TR P COS III, immediately preceding the introduction of shortened obverse formulas such as HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS later in the AD 120s. While Pax standing left with a branch and cornucopia is also known on contemporary sestertii and dupondii, type 672 designates the specific bronze as produced with an undraped, laureate head right and this distinct legend pairing. Minor variations within the type may occur in the cutting of the hair locks or the precise angle of the olive branch, reflecting the work of distinct die cutters within the Rome mint rather than intentional typological subtypes.

Circulation Patterns and Monetary Role

As an essential bronze denomination, RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672 entered an active, long-lived circulation pool. Middle-bronze denominations produced at Rome circulated extensively throughout Italy and were routinely transported to western imperial territories, including Gaul, Hispania, Britain, and the Rhine-Danube frontier provinces, to facilitate day-to-day trade and supply small change for troops. Archaeological finds, site assemblages, and small-bronze hoards demonstrate that asses of Hadrian frequently circulated for several decades alongside earlier issues of Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan, often remaining in use well into the reigns of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius until wear obscured their portraiture and legends. The base-metal nature of the as made it a coin of high velocity, undergoing rapid transfer in commercial marketplaces and local taverns. The physical survival of specimens with moderate to heavy wear patterns testifies to the sustained functional role this type played in everyday economic transactions across the Roman Mediterranean.

References

1. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. II, Part 3: Hadrian. pp. 110-125
2. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian. pp. 410-425
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 672. ric.2_3(2).hdn.672