Description:
This denarius coin was minted in Rome during the rule of Hadrian, who was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. The obverse side features the laureate head of Hadrian with the legend HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS “Hadrian Augustus.” Hadrian is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman territory in Britain. A significant portion of the wall still exists and today is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and almost two thousand years later, its dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.
During his reign, Hadrian traveled to nearly every province of the Roman Empire ordering the construction of libraries, aqueducts, baths and theaters. He spent extensive amounts of his time with the military; he usually wore military attire and even dined and slept amongst the soldiers. Hadrian was known as an intellectual and a patron of the arts. He is considered by many historians to have been wise and just and one of the finest of all Roman Emperors.
The reverse side of this Hadrian coin shows Virtus, standing and resting her foot on a helmet, while she is holding a parazonium dagger and a spear. In ancient Roman religion, Virtus was the goddess of bravery and military strength. She was worshiped at the Temple of Honor and Virtue in Rome.
