Modern ring with Hadrian denarius

ITEM: Modern ring with Hadrian denarius
MATERIAL: Silver
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: ES 26, F 66, USA 11,5, 28 mm x 26 mm
CONDITION: Good condition. Original coin within a modern handmade silver ring.
PROVENANCE: Ex Spanish private collection, bought in Austrian auction house (Coin)

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus, 76–138 CE) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 117 to 138 CE, succeeding his adoptive father, Emperor Trajan. Unlike his predecessor, who pursued aggressive territorial expansion, Hadrian is best known for consolidating and securing Rome’s vast empire. He withdrew from some of Trajan’s conquests in Mesopotamia and instead focused on strengthening Rome’s borders, most famously by constructing Hadrian’s Wall in Britain. This massive fortification marked the empire’s northernmost boundary and was intended to control movement and defend against local tribes. Hadrian also traveled extensively throughout the empire, personally overseeing administrative and military affairs, which earned him a reputation as a hands-on and strategic ruler.

Hadrian was a patron of art, architecture, and Greek culture, earning him the title of a philhellene (a lover of Greek culture). He commissioned grand architectural projects, including the Pantheon’s reconstruction in Rome and the Villa Adriana, his lavish countryside retreat in Tivoli. His admiration for Greek philosophy and learning influenced his policies, as he encouraged intellectual and cultural exchange within the empire. Hadrian’s reign also saw important legal and administrative reforms, centralizing authority and improving governance. However, he faced resistance, especially in Judea, where his efforts to suppress Jewish revolts—particularly the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–136 CE)—led to widespread destruction and the renaming of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina to erase its Jewish identity.

Hadrian’s personal life was equally notable, especially his deep affection for Antinous, a young Greek companion whose untimely death in 130 CE led Hadrian to deify him and establish a cult in his honor. In his later years, Hadrian’s rule became harsher, with purges of perceived rivals and a strained succession process. He eventually adopted Antoninus Pius as his heir, ensuring a peaceful transition. Hadrian died in 138 CE and was later deified by the Senate. His reign is remembered as one of consolidation, cultural flourishing, and architectural grandeur, marking a shift from expansionist ambitions to a more sustainable and well-governed Roman Empire.