Hadrian, 117-138. Aureus (Gold, 21 mm, 6.94 g, 6 h), Rome, circa 125-126. AVGVSTVS - HADRIANVS Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. COS III Hadrian on horseback to right, raising his right hand in salute and holding reins with his left. BMC p. 293 note 429 = Cohen 407. Calicó 1217. RIC 784. Strack 146. Very rare. Light marks and with minor traces of mounting, otherwise, good fine.



A joyous moment in any emperor's reign was his adventus (literally 'arrival') in Rome or the other cities of the empire, either at his accession or after a prolonged period of absence, mostly related to military campaigns. In the case of Hadrian, his absence involved his grand tour of the empire. After visiting the western provinces and Asia Minor, the emperor returned to Rome in 125, where he probably handed out a liberality to the populace, and coins were struck to mark the occasion. Typically, coins celebrating an adventus show the emperor on horseback raising his arm in salute, as is the case on the present piece.