Denarius of Hadrian

Joe Pearson said that this coin was unearthed during a club dig held in East Yorkshire. It’s a denarius of one of the better-known Roman emperors – Hadrian, whose name will be forever linked to the wall that was built across the north of England.

On the obverse the laureate head of Hadrian and a legend reading HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P. On the reverse is the personification of Asia, with a foot on the prow of a ship and holding a rudder and a hook.

In volume II of David Sear’s Roman Coins and Their Values this coin is listed as number 3462. However, the description of the reverse is different. In Roman Imperial Coins the reference number is 301. The type, of which there are some varieties, was struck at Rome during AD 136.

Valuation

The obverse would grade good Fine but the reverse is only Fine with some discolouration. The last example of this type I traced being sold was in 2019, when a VF specimen achieved a figure of £175. Unfortunately, the overall grade of preservation of Joe’s coin is not a good as the 2019 denarius. In its present condition my price range would be no higher than £60 – £80.