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Auction: 23004 - Ancient and British Coins - Featuring the 'White Rose' Collection
Lot: 644

Roman Empire, Hadrian (117-138), AV Aureus, struck AD 134-138, Rome, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right rev. VICTO-R-IA AVG, Victory standing left, holding palm frond and eagle with wreath in beak, 7.06g [116.0grns], 7h (Cohen 1459; BMC 767; RIC II, 284a; Biaggi 665 same dies; Calicó 1397 same dies; Strack 278), modest striking splits on an elliptical flan, otherwise pleasingly well-centred and sumptuously choice, much as struck, a most impressive example of this lauded Emperor, a most evocative commemorative type

This reverse type most likely alludes to Hadrian's victory over Simon Bar Kochba in Judaea during the second and last Romano-Jewish war. This large-scale rebellion lasted from AD 132-136, and succeeded in establishing an independent state of Israel over parts of Judaea for over two years. Jewish gains were brief however, as Hadrian responded with six full legions and auxiliaries to crush the revolt. According to Cassius Dio, 580,000 Jews were killed during the rebellion, 50 fortified towns and 985 villages were razed to the ground, and many more Jews sold into slavery. Roman military casualties were significant; Cassius Dio claimed that "many Romans, moreover, perished in this war". Therefore, Hadrian, in writing to the Senate, did not employ the opening phrase commonly affected by the emperors: "If you and your children are in health, it is well; I and the army are in health." Legio XXII Deiotariana was disbanded after severe losses, and Legio IX Hispana was possibly also disbanded as a result of the war.

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