Both sides of an irregularly shaped bronze coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a bearded man facing right, short tendrils of curly hair held in place with a laurel wreath; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: H A D R I A N V S / A V G / C O S / I I I / P P. The other side of the coin depicts a woman standing facing left, draped in loose fitting clothing, right arm outstretched holding a small bowl over an altar, entwined around the alter, a serpent rises to feed from the bowl, left arm slightly raised holding a long vertical staff; surrounding the border, small dots and the Latin characters: S A L V S / A V G - S C.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2008.115.245
People
Hadrian, Roman (r. 117-138 CE)
Title
Sestertius of Hadrian, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
119-138 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period, Middle
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/186217

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Metal
AE
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
12.54 g
Die Axis
5
Denomination
sestertius
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: HADRIANVS / AVG COS III PP
  • Reverse Inscription: SALVS / AVG - S C

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
BMC III 1558 p. 476

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, Department of the Classics, Harvard University
Accession Year
2008
Object Number
2008.115.245
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Laureate bust of Hadrian to r.
Rev.: Salus (Health) draped standing to l., holding patera in r. hand over an altar, feeding a serpent entwined around it, and a scepter in l. hand.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu