coin

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Object Type
Museum number: R.8869
Denomination: dupondius or as
Description: Copper alloy coin. (whole); Bare headed bust of Hadrian, right, draped. (obverse); Nilus, naked to the waist, reclining right, leaning on rock, holding reed in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand: in front, a hippopotamus facing left: below, crocodile in water. (reverse)
State
Authority
Cultures/periods
Production date: 130-138
Production place: Minted in: Rome (city)
Materials
Dimensions: Die-axis: 6 o'clock; Weight: 11.33 grammes
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references: RE3 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol.III: Nerva to Hadrian (1774 p.516); Strack (Hadrian) / Die Reichspraegung zur Zeit des Hadrian (728); RIC2 / The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 2: Vespasian to Hadrian (862, p.449); RIC2.3 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. II - part 3 from AD 117-138 Hadrian (1703)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: emperor/empress; allegory/personification; crocodile
Associated names: Named in inscription & portrayed: Hadrian; Named in inscription & portrayed: Nile
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1877
Acquisition notes: The Bank of England loaned their Collection to the British Museum in 1865 wishing to make it accessible to the general public. This remained as a separate Collection until 1877 when the Bank Directors decided it would be more useful to the museum and the public if incorporated into the national collection. The Bank of England collection was therefore presented to the British Museum in 1877, any duplicates being sold to create a coins and medals purchase fund.
Department: Coins and Medals
Registration number: R.8869
C&M catalogue number: RE3 (516) (1774)

Free entry

Opening hours