Hadrian, 117-138. Denarius (Subaeratus, 17 mm, 2.62 g, 6 h), uncertain mint in the East, circa 130-135. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bare-headed and draped bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. GERMANIA Germania standing front, head to right, holding spear in her right hand and placing her left on decorated shield set on ground. BMC -. Cohen -. RIC -, cf. 1522 (Rome mint). Unpublished and unique. A highly interesting piece of great historical interest. Beautifully designed and with a very impressive portrait. Some breaks in plating and with minor deposits, otherwise, about extremely fine.


Hadrian's popular 'GERMANIA' reverse was hitherto only known from Rome, but this piece attests that it also occurred in the East, where subaerati were occasionally issued in imperial mints alongside solid silver coins (see Leu Web Auction 24 (2022), 2817). It is a highly interesting discovery, and it was struck from beautifully crafted dies in the finest eastern cistophoric style.