Bronze sestertius of Hadrian
Unknown Artist
134–138 CE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
1 1/4 × 3/16 in., 21.3g (3.1 × 0.5 cm, 21.3g)
Classification
Coins
Culture & Period
Roman · Mid Imperial, Hadrianic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.170.385
Tags
Art Historical Context
This bronze sestertius, minted during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (r. 117–138 CE), exemplifies the Roman Empire's masterful use of coinage as both currency and propaganda. Struck between 134 and 138 CE in the Mid Imperial period, it belongs to a class of large bronze coins valued at a quarter of a denarius, widely circulated across the empire to facilitate trade and daily transactions. Hadrian, known for his extensive travels and architectural legacies like Hadrian's Wall, used such coins to disseminate his image, fostering imperial unity and loyalty. The coin's obverse likely features a det...