Silver Denarius of Hadrian RIC 240

Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.07g) Struck A.D. 134-138 Rome

Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS II P P Laureate bust right

Rev: FELICITATI AVGVSTI Galley sailing left

RIC II 240, Sear 2491 C. 712
ex. Dan Hoffman Collection

1. The Front Side (Obverse): The Emperor's Selfie

The front features a crisp profile of Hadrian wearing a laurel wreath, which was like the Roman version of a royal crown.

The Latin text stamped around his head reads: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P

• HADRIANVS: His name!
• AVG (Augustus): The official title for the Emperor.
• COS III (Consul for the Third Time): This lets us know he held one of Rome’s highest political offices three times.
• P P (Pater Patriae): A massive honorific title meaning "Father of the Country."

2. The Back Side (Reverse): The Great Traveler

The back of the coin shows a large Roman galley boat with oars moving smoothly across the water.

The text reads: FELICITATI AVGVSTI

• This translates to "To the Good Fortune (or Happiness) of the Emperor."

What’s the hidden story here?

Hadrian was famous for being a traveler. Unlike other emperors who stayed tucked away in the palace at Rome, Hadrian spent more than half of his 21-year reign visiting nearly every single province in the Roman Empire (including Britain, Egypt, Greece, and Judea). He wanted to inspect the military, secure the borders, and check in on things personally.

Because he spent so much time on the water, returning safely to Rome was a big deal. Historians interpret this "Good Fortune / Galley" design in two ways:

1. A Safe Return Home: It was likely struck to celebrate his safe sea voyage back to Rome after his final grand tour of the provinces.
2. Smooth Sailing for the Empire: It was a metaphor reassuring Roman citizens that the "Ship of State" was in safe hands and sailing smoothly under Hadrian's lucky guidance.