Important Ancient Coins

ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS, Hadrian (117-138), Sestertius, c. 132-4, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, rev. felicitati avg cos iii p p, war galley moving left over waves with vexillum at prow, six soldiers on deck addressed by Emperor seated left in steering house, 25.15g/12h (cf. RIC 706; cf. BMC 1394; cf C 663). Very fine, even brown tone (£250-300)

In order to overcome the violent revolt which arose in Judæa in 132 when Hadrian built a shrine of Jupiter on the Temple Mount at Jerusalem, he was obliged to employ an enormous armament of ships and men and personally visit the region