Hadrian. Æ Sestertius (24.19 g), AD 117-138. Rome, ca. AD 134-138. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare-headed and draped bust of Hadrian right. Reverse: ADVENTVI AVG IVDAEAE, S C in exergue, Hadrian, togate, standing right, holding roll and facing Judaea standing left, sacrificing out of patera over altar; at either side of Judaea, child standing left, holding palm branch; behind altar, bull recumbant left. Hendin 1604; RIC 890c; BMC 1655. Rare. Excellent detail and quite pleasing. Brassy and tan patina. Very Fine. Value $3,000 - UP
Hadrian traveled extensively throughout the Roman provinces during his reign, and struck an number of reverse types to commemorate each province he visited. These highly collectible coins are generally referred to by numismatists as Hadrian's "Travel Series.' One of the most difficult to obtain of the entire series - and probably the rarest of these commemorative coins - honors the province of Judaea, which Hadrian visited in the summer of AD 130. The reverse depicts the emperor facing Judaea, who is the act of sacrificing at an altar flanked by a bull. It is particularly poignant as it alludes the loyalty of the province to the central government in Rome. It is not known whether this type dates immediately to Hadrian's visit in AD 130 or perhaps later, either during or after the outbreak of the Bar Kokhba Revolt (AD 132-135), but here we follow the dating of AD 134-138 proposed by Mattingly and Sutherland in RIC II.
Ex Mel Wacks Collection; Purchased from Christian Blom of New York, 1960s.