Hadrian, 117-138. Medallion (Orichalcum, 37 mm, 48.12 g, 12 h), Rome, circa 130-138. IMP CAESAR HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bare head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. Salus standing right, legs crossed, feeding serpent hanging from a tree on right out of patera with her right hand; in front of her, garlanded altar inscribed SALVS. Gnecchi -. Mittag -. RIC -. Strack -. Apparently unpublished save for its previous auction appearance. An interesting piece struck on a very thick and heavy flan. Somewhat smoothed and with minor roughness, otherwise, good fine.


Hadrian, though certainly one of Rome's most active emperors, developed serious health problems starting in 127. In fact, when his lover, Antinoüs, drowned in the Nile in 130, the rumor went that he had not simply fallen overboard in a tragic accident, but that the youth had been deliberately sacrificed in a macabre ritual meant to cure Hadrian's ailments. Hadrian's physical condition did improve afterwards, though he was emotionally ravaged. It is perhaps in the context of the emperor's frail health that we should see this impressive medallion showing Salus on the reverse, the personification of prosperity, health and well-being, who watched over the emperor and the Roman people as a whole. Divine protection could not indefinitely prolong Hadrian's life, however, and in 138, he died of heart disease after another bout of illness. Of course, for an emperor, death was not truly the end: soon after he passed away, Hadrian was deified by his adoptive son and successor, Antoninus, who ignored the Senate's disapproval and earned himself the epithet of 'Pius'.