Hadrian Sestertius, RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2432

Monetary Context and Denominational Role

Under the monetary framework established by Augustus and maintained through the Antonine era, the sestertius stood as the largest standard token denomination circulating across the Roman Empire. Valued at one-fourth of a silver denarius, or four copper asses, the sestertius was manufactured from orichalcum, a copper-zinc alloy commonly termed brass in modern literature. Orichalcum possessed a golden-yellow hue when freshly minted, which distinguished it visibly from the pure reddish copper used for asses and quadrantes. Because of its size, mass, and purchasing power, the sestertius held a vital intermediary position in everyday transactions, operating above small retail change while remaining far more accessible to urban populations than silver denarii or gold aurei. The expansive flan of the denomination also gave it unique ideological prominence, offering die engravers ample space to render highly detailed imperial portraits and complex allegorical tableaux.

Mint Location and Manufacturing Technique

The sestertii of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2432 were produced exclusively at the central imperial mint in Rome. Production involved the casting of substantial orichalcum flans, which were prepared to a standard weight typically averaging between twenty-four and twenty-eight grams, though individual survivors vary depending on wear and alloy composition. The flans were heated and struck between hand-carved intaglio dies, with the lower die fixed into an anvil and the upper die held in place manually before receiving hammer blows. The regular round flans and high-relief engraving characteristic of late Hadrianic issues demonstrate the exceptional technical discipline of the Rome mint workshops during the late 130s AD. Die axis alignment for these issues typically clusters near six o'clock or twelve o'clock, reflecting standard imperial mint practice.

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Representation

The obverse of this catalogued type displays a mature portrait bust of Hadrian facing right. In keeping with the specific diagnostic criteria of RIC 2432, the bust is draped and depicted from the rear or side, showcasing folds of fabric across the shoulder and chest rather than a bare head or purely cuirassed presentation. Hadrian is rendered with his distinctive tightly curled hair and trimmed beard, a stylistic hallmark of his reign that broke decisively with earlier Julio-Claudian and Flavian traditions of clean-shaven imperial portraiture. By AD 137 to 138, the emperor's portraiture had evolved into an idealized yet grave depiction of veteran authority, capturing the physical gravitas of a ruler nearing the end of a two-decade reign.

Reverse Design and Allegorical Iconography

The reverse composition features Spes, the Roman personification of Hope, stepping forward in lively motion toward the left. In her upraised right hand, she holds a budding flower, a traditional attribute signifying incipient growth, springtime, and future abundance. With her left hand, she delicately gathers and lifts the hem of her long peplos or chiton to ease her forward advance, a stance derived directly from archaic and classical Greek depictions of korai that had been assimilated into Roman religious art. The letters S and C appear prominently across the field to the left and right of the figure, recording the formal formula Senatus Consulto. This senatorial sanction underscored the constitutional tradition that base-metal coinage was authorized by decree of the Senate, even as production remained firmly under imperial control.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Analysis

The obverse inscription reads HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, continuing uninterrupted around the imperial portrait. This formula reflects the highly condensed epigraphic style adopted during Hadrian's third consulate (COS III), which began in AD 119, coupled with the title Pater Patriae (P P), which Hadrian formally accepted in AD 128. By omitting earlier lineage references such as Traiani Parthici Filius, the late legends achieved concise authority. The reverse inscription reads SPES P R, standing for Spes Populi Romani, the Hope of the Roman People. Paired with the field legend S C, the text directly identifies the personification and frames the concept of hope not as an abstract virtue, but as a specific civic pledge guaranteed to the citizenry by the Roman state and its governing institutions.

Typological Classification and Chronological Placement

In the revised classification of RIC II, Part 3 published by Richard Abdy and Peter F. Mittag, this type is catalogued as number 2432, belonging to the extensive series of base-metal coins issued during Hadrian's final tribunician periods from AD 137 to his death in July AD 138. The appearance of Spes during this brief window is historically significant. Following the premature death of his first adopted heir, Lucius Aelius Caesar, in January AD 138, Hadrian moved swiftly to secure the succession by adopting Antoninus Pius, who in turn adopted Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The Spes Populi Romani motif functioned as public reassurance that the imperial line was settled and that the security of the empire remained intact. RIC 2432 is distinguished from parallel issues, such as RIC 2431 or RIC 2433, by its precise combination of the draped bust viewed from the rear or side and the specific legend break.

Circulation Patterns and Archaeological Recovery

Sestertii of Hadrian enjoyed widespread circulation across the western and Danubian provinces as well as throughout the Italian peninsula. Because orichalcum sestertii possessed significant intrinsic metal value and retained their face value over generations, they often remained in active commercial circulation for decades, frequently passing through multiple hands until the severe inflationary debasements of the mid-third century AD. Excavation contexts across Roman Britain, Gaul, the German frontiers, and Italy regularly yield worn specimens of late Hadrianic sestertii, often found alongside later Antonine issues in large site hoards. The persistent presence of these coins in archaeological contexts attests to the massive output of the Rome mint during the late 130s AD and the durable utility of the sestertius in provincial markets.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume III: Nerva to Hadrian. Hadrian, Rome Base Metal
2. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2432. ric.2_3(2).hdn.2432
3. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume II, Part 3: From Hadrian to Antoninus Pius: Hadrian. pp. 230-245, no. 2432
4. Untersuchungen zur romischen Reichspragung des zweiten Jahrhunderts, Teil II: Die Reichspragung zur Zeit des Hadrian. Hadrianische Bronzepragung