Hadrian Dupondius, RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878

Monetary Context and Denominational Function

During the reign of Hadrian (AD 117 to 138), the imperial monetary system maintained the bimetallic and base-metal denominational structure established during the Augustan monetary reforms. Within this framework, brass (orichalcum) and copper alloys fulfilled the essential requirement for fractional currency below the silver denarius. The dupondius was tariffed as two asses, or half of a brass sestertius, with eight dupondii equivalent to one silver denarius. As an alloy of copper and zinc, orichalcum possessed a higher intrinsic value than the unalloyed copper used for asses, allowing dupondii to circulate at twice the value of an as while maintaining a comparable physical diameter and module. Type RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878 belongs to the consolidated administrative and fiscal environment of the mid-120s AD. Hadrian's financial policy placed a heavy emphasis on stability, debt remission, and the regularized maintenance of civic welfare. Fractional base-metal pieces were struck in enormous quantities to facilitate everyday urban commerce, retail transactions, tax collections, and army payments. The dupondius occupied a critical intermediate position, bridging small change transactions with higher-value transactions typically settled in silver. By securing reliable token values backed by the state, the Roman treasury ensured the seamless integration of orichalcum denominations into the imperial market economy.

Production Standards and Mint Organization

The entire production run of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878 was executed by the imperial mint in Rome. During this phase of Hadrian's principate, base-metal coin production was heavily centralized in the capital, where specialized workshops (officinae) operated under the oversight of imperial procurators. Flans were prepared through cast strip techniques before being trimmed and heated, ensuring relatively consistent flan integrity capable of receiving deep die impressions. The metal employed for this issue was orichalcum, a golden-toned copper-zinc alloy. Typical second-century dupondii adhered to a target weight standard centered around 11.50 to 14.00 grams, with flan diameters commonly measuring between 26 and 28 millimeters, though individual specimens exhibit expected operational variance resulting from manual flan production and die wear. While early imperial dupondii were almost universally distinguished from asses by the inclusion of a radiate crown, specific issues in the second edition of RIC II indicate variation in portrait attributes, requiring cataloguers to confirm alloy composition and die identity to differentiate between orichalcum dupondii and contemporary copper asses. Die alignment for the issue typically adheres to the standard Roman median orientation (commonly six o'clock or twelve o'clock).

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Representation

The obverse of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878 displays a mature portrait of Emperor Hadrian facing right. In accordance with the revised classification of Abdy and Harling, the bust is laureate and draped, viewed either from the side or slightly from the rear. Hadrian's numismatic portraiture reflects a marked shift from the clean-shaven conventions of the Julio-Claudian and Flavian dynasties toward the philhellenic beard and curled hair that characterized his entire reign. The die-cutters at Rome captured Hadrian's characteristic facial structure, emphasizing a full beard, defined jawline, and straight nose. The laurel wreath rests securely upon his hair, with ties falling down the nape of the neck. The drapery across the shoulders conveys martial and civic dignity without the full armored trappings of a military cuirass. This specific visual depiction represents the settled imperial persona adopted during the mid-reign, portraying the emperor as an experienced administrator and guardian of Roman traditional religion.

Reverse Iconography: Salus and the Sacred Serpent

The reverse design of this dupondius features Salus, the Roman divine personification of health, safety, and public well-being, seated facing left. Salus holds a shallow offering dish (patera) in her extended right hand, feeding a serpent that rises from a low, decorated altar positioned to her left. The serpent coils around the altar, raising its head toward the libation proffered by the goddess. Salus's left arm rests comfortably against the side of her seat, holding her posture in balanced repose. The motif of Salus feeding a serpent has deep roots in Greco-Roman sacred traditions, connecting the Roman concept of public safety (Salus Publica or Salus Augusti) with the healing cult of Asclepius and Hygieia. The serpent symbolized both rejuvenation and protective vigilance. By offering nourishment to the sacred reptile, the emperor, through the personification of Salus, signaled piety and continuous divine supplication. This iconography assured the Roman populace that the well-being of the princeps and the commonwealth was preserved under divine favor.

Epigraphy and Titulature Analysis

The inscriptions on RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878 reflect the simplified, streamlined imperial epigraphy introduced during the middle phase of Hadrian's administration. The obverse legend reads: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Beginning in AD 123 to 124, Hadrian largely discarded lengthy titular strings detailing past consulships, imperatorial acclamations, and ancestral lineages, adopting instead this concise nominative legend. The elimination of explicit filiation (such as Divi Traiani Filius) emphasized his settled, unchallenged authority as Augustus. The reverse inscription is divided between the field and the exergue: COS III in the upper reverse field, and S C in the exergue below the ground line. The formula COS III references Hadrian's third consulship, which he entered on January 1, AD 119. Because he never accepted a fourth consulship, COS III remained a static chronological element on his coinage for the remainder of his life. The letters S C represent Senatus Consulto, declaring that the coinage was produced by decree of the Senate. While the imperial treasury directly controlled all mint administration, the retention of S C on base-metal denominations preserved the traditional republican fiction of senatorial authority over copper and brass issues.

Typology and Chronological Classification

In the original 1926 edition of Roman Imperial Coinage Volume II by Harold Mattingly and Edward Sydenham, Hadrianic issues were classified across broad thematic lines that frequently conflated chronological phases. The comprehensive revision of the series by Richard Abdy and Peter Harling in 2019 (RIC II, Part 3) established a refined chronological sequence based on portrait styles, legend breaks, and administrative mint structures. Under this modern arrangement, type 878 is assigned to the production window of AD 126 to 127. This dating places the striking shortly after Hadrian's return to Rome from his first major tour of the western and eastern provinces (AD 121 to 125). Related issues of the same period include parallel strikes of Salus in the sestertius and as denominations, as well as companion issues depicting Virtus, Fides, and Hilaritas. The placement of S C exclusively in the exergue on type 878, rather than flanking the figure across the fields, forms an important typological discriminator among Hadrian's middle-period base-metal coin series.

Circulation Patterns and Archaeological Recovery

Base-metal coins struck at Rome circulated widely across the European provinces, North Africa, and the Danubian frontier. Dupondii of Hadrian, including RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) 878, fulfilled everyday retail needs in military camps, urban fora, and rural markets. Because orichalcum retained distinct intrinsic value compared to unalloyed copper, dupondii frequently remained in active commercial circulation for decades, often exhibiting substantial mechanical wear before eventual loss or burial. Archaeological finds from Britain, Gaul, the Germanies, and Italy regularly record Hadrianic dupondii in site assemblages and hoards deposited well into the late second and early third centuries AD. Their presence in military vici along Hadrian's Wall and the Upper German Limes highlights the critical role played by Rome-minted fractional bronze in paying troops and stimulating localized economic integration throughout the frontier zones.

References

1. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume II, Part 3: From Hadrian to Antoninus Pius (AD 117-138) - Hadrian. pp. 140-155, no. 878
2. The Denominational System of the Roman Principate. pp. 1-25
3. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian. pp. 430-445
4. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 878. ric.2_3(2).hdn.878
5. Untersuchungen zur romischen Reichspragung des zweiten Jahrhunderts, Teil II: Die Reichspragung zur Zeit des Hadrian. pp. 112-120