Hadrian, 117-138, Denarius

Hadrian, denarius, AR, reign 117–138 AD, Rome mint, c. 134–138 AD, 3.11 g, 18 mm. Obverse with laureate head of Hadrian right; legend HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P. Reverse with legend COS III within laurel wreath. Well-centered strike with clear legends on both sides; light circulation wear. RIC II.3 Hadrian 924–925.

Issued under Hadrian with his titulature as consul for the third time and pater patriae, this denarius belongs to the central silver currency that facilitated military pay, state expenditures, and commercial exchange across the empire. The COS III formula fixes the type within Hadrian’s later reign and reflects the continued emphasis on imperial office-holding and legitimacy communicated through standardized coin legends and traditional Roman symbols such as the laurel wreath.