HADRIAN. Denarius. (Ar. 2.99g/18mm). 120-121 AD Rome. (RIC 308). Obv: Laureate head of Hadrian right, around legend: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG. Rev: Adriano seated left in a curule chair on a dais, extending his hand to a citizen on the stairs with drapes, in exergue: LIBERAL AVG/III, around legend: PM TR P COS III. Good Very Fine. Nice specimen, rare like this.
The curule chair (sella curulis), intended for the Roman aediles, and in general for people who exercised a high magistracy, has its origin in Etruria. Usually made of ivory, with curved legs, in the shape of an X and without a back, it had its equal for military leaders on campaign in the so-called sella castrensis. Both shared an intentional discomfort with the objective, it seems clear, of keeping the current ruler seated for a short time. It is a recurring element in the iconography not only of coins but also of medals and funerary monuments since they symbolize the curule magistracy.
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