CVC & Collectables presents this bronze As of Emperor Hadrian, struck at Rome between AD 134-138 and certified NGC Choice Fine. This late-reign issue features Annona, the personification of Rome’s grain supply, emphasizing the emperor’s responsibility for maintaining food security throughout the empire.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuer: Roman Empire
- Emperor: Hadrian (AD 117-138)
- Date: AD 134-138
- Denomination: As
- Composition: Bronze
- Grade: NGC Choice Fine (Ch F)
- Reference: RIC II 796
- Mint: Rome
Obverse:
- Bare-headed portrait of Hadrian facing right with draped left shoulder.
- Legend: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P.
- A mature portrait from the final years of Hadrian’s reign.
Reverse:
- Annona standing left, holding ears of grain over a modius and a rudder.
- Legend: ANNONA AVG with S C in the fields.
- Symbolizes Rome’s grain distribution system and the emperor’s stewardship of the empire’s food supply.
Emperor History: Hadrian (AD 117-138)
Hadrian succeeded Trajan in AD 117 and is remembered as one of Rome’s most capable and influential emperors. Unlike his predecessor’s expansionist policies, Hadrian focused on consolidating and securing the empire’s borders. He traveled extensively throughout the Roman world, strengthening administration, military defenses, and provincial infrastructure. His most famous construction project, Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, remains one of the defining monuments of Roman engineering. His reign ushered in a prolonged period of stability and prosperity across the empire.
Collectibility:
Bronze coins of Hadrian remain popular among collectors due to the emperor’s historical importance and the variety of reverse types issued during his reign. The Annona reverse is especially desirable for its connection to Rome’s economic administration and food supply system. This certified NGC Choice Fine example offers a solid portrait, historical significance, and an attractive representation of one of Rome’s most respected rulers.
