Hadrian Orichalcum Sestertius RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695

Monetary Context and Imperial Policy

The sestertius was the premier brass denomination of the early and high Roman imperial monetary system, functioning as both an everyday medium of large transactions and a high-visibility platform for political communication. Established under Augustus, the imperial denomination system maintained the sestertius at four asses or two dupondii, minted in orichalcum (a copper-zinc alloy often termed brass). During the reign of Hadrian (AD 117-138), imperial bronze coinage was struck primarily at the central mint in Rome under the formal authority of the Senate, as denoted by the formulaic inscription S C (Senatus Consulto). In the late 130s AD, succession concerns became paramount for the ailing emperor. Having no biological children, Hadrian adopted Lucius Ceionius Commodus in AD 136, bestowing upon him the name Lucius Aelius Caesar. To familiarize the populace, the Senate, and the legions with his heir, Hadrian commissioned extensive series of gold, silver, and bronze coins bearing the name and likeness of Aelius. Type RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695 represents one of the quintessential sestertii of this succession campaign, deliberately deployed to project constitutional legitimacy and dynastic stability across the empire.

Production Standards and Minting

All specimens of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695 were manufactured at the central imperial mint in Rome. Mint operations of the late Hadrianic period maintained high technical and artistic standards. Blanks for sestertii were cast in orichalcum, an alloy prized for its golden appearance when freshly minted. In this period, typical sestertii were struck within a nominal mass standard centering around 24 to 28 grams, with diameters usually ranging between 31 and 34 millimeters, although striking variations, alloy composition, and subsequent circulation wear cause individual specimens to deviate across a broader spectrum. The dies were individually hand-engraved by imperial artisans, leading to subtle stylistic nuances in portrait relief, letter spacing, and the rendering of drapery. Die alignment on Roman imperial bronze of this era generally followed a regular upright or inverted axis (frequently close to 6 o'clock or 12 o'clock). Production of this issue was concentrated within AD 137, reflecting the rapid mobilization of the Rome mint to publicize Aelius Caesar's constitutional titles.

Obverse Iconography and Epigraphy

The obverse of RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695 features the right-facing bare head of Lucius Aelius Caesar. Unlike the reigning Augustus, who commonly appeared with a laurel wreath on bronze coinage, Aelius is portrayed bareheaded, a standard numismatic convention denoting his subordinate rank as Caesar rather than Augustus. The portraiture is characterized by the individualized, aristocratic features typical of Hadrianic classicism: an unruly mass of curls, a trimmed beard conforming to the prevailing fashion set by Hadrian, and a pronounced facial profile. The obverse is bordered by a continuous or segmented inscription, reading L AELIVS CAESAR, running clockwise from the lower left. This concise formula explicitly names the adopted heir while eschewing the imperial title Imperator or the cognomen Augustus, thereby maintaining the strict hierarchy of imperial titulature.

Reverse Iconography: Spes and Dynastic Continuity

The reverse type features the standing figure of Spes, the divine personification of hope, advancing gracefully toward the left. In her right hand, Spes holds out a blossom or flower bud, symbolic of burgeoning growth and youthful expectation, while her left hand gathers and lifts the hem of her draped stola or peplos as she strides forward. This motif was a traditional Roman artistic convention derived from archaic and classical Greek models of the Korai and Spes. Within the ideological framework of the Principate, Spes was closely associated with the youth of the imperial house, specifically designated heirs and young caesares. Her presence on the coinage of Aelius Caesar expressed the hope of the state (Spes Augusta or Spes Publica) for a peaceful transition of power. Flanking the figure in the lower fields is the inscription S C, confirming that the coinage was produced by senatorial decree, which lent constitutional validation to the dynastic succession.

Legends and Inscriptional Analysis

The legends on RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695 provide precise chronological and administrative data. The obverse legend reads L AELIVS CAESAR, abbreviating 'Lucius Aelius Caesar'. The reverse legend reads TR POT COS II, which expands to 'Tribunicia Potestate, Consul Iterum' (Holder of the Tribunician Power, Consul for the Second Time), arranged along the upper perimeter, complemented by S C ('Senatus Consulto') divided across the left and right fields. Lucius Aelius Caesar received the tribunician power from Hadrian late in AD 136 or early in AD 137 and assumed his second ordinary consulship on January 1, AD 137. The omission of higher tribunician numbers confirms that the coin could not have been minted after AD 137. The legend contains no additional honorary epithets, reflecting the concise official titulature accorded to the heir during his lifetime.

Typology and Chronological Classification

Within the revised classification of Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC II, Part 3, second edition), type 2695 is defined specifically by the combination of the bare head facing right, the obverse legend L AELIVS CAESAR, and the reverse of Spes advancing left holding a flower and skirt with legend TR POT COS II and S C in field. Related contemporary issues for Aelius feature alternate reverse allegories, such as Concordia seated, Fortuna standing with rudder and cornucopia, or Pannonia personified, commemorating his governorship on the Danube. Furthermore, variations within the broader series include bust variations (such as draped or cuirassed busts) which are classified under separate RIC type numbers (such as RIC 2696 or 2697). Because Aelius entered his second consulship on January 1, AD 137, and passed away on January 1, AD 138 before ascending the throne or assuming a third consulship, all specimens of type 2695 are confined to the calendar year AD 137.

Circulation Patterns and Monetary Role

As a heavyweight orichalcum coin, the sestertius circulated extensively throughout Italy and the western provinces of the Roman Empire, including Gaul, Britain, the Rhine frontier, and the Danubian region. Hoard evidence and single-find archaeological records show that sestertii struck for Aelius Caesar remained in active circulation long after his death. Because Roman bronze coins were rarely recalled upon the death of an heir, specimens of type 2695 continued to pass from hand to hand throughout the Antonine and Severan periods, often experiencing substantial physical wear, countermarking, or chemical patination over decades of use. Their survival in mixed antonine hoards demonstrates that they were fully integrated into the general pool of imperial currency, functioning alongside sestertii of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.

References

1. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian. pp. 543-547
2. Roman Coins from the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire. pp. 110-115
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2695. ric.2_3(2).hdn.2695
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. II, Part 3: From Hadrian to Antoninus Pius (AD 117-138), Second Revised Edition. pp. 160-165, no. 2695
5. Untersuchungen zur romischen Reichspragung des zweiten Jahrhunderts, Teil II: Die Reichspragung zur Zeit des Hadrian. pp. 178-182