Ancient Roman Siliqua Coin Ring, Sterling silver & 18Kt Gold

 Ancient Roman siliqua silver coin, 117-131 AD, in 18Kt Bezel on sterling silver ring. The obverse depicts the Laureate head facing right, while the reverse features Victory standing right.

Hadrian was born January 24, 76. The exact location is in dispute, but has been narrowed down to either Rome,  or ltalica in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica (near Seville in modern-day Spain). Hadrian’s father died when he was only ten years old and he became the ward of his father’s cousin, Trajan, who became emperor in 98.  Educated in Rome, Hadrian then gained extensive military experience as a legatus (general) during the conquests of Dacia (modern-day Romania) and later Parthia (Iraq). As one of Trajan’s closest allies he also held the important offices of the Roman state, culminating in serving as consul – traditionally an executive role of the highest honor – and two terms as a governor of provinces of the Roman Empire.

In Athens he immersed himself in Greek culture, for which he developed a deep and abiding attachment.

Trajan died in AD 117 having not publicly named a successor. Hadrian’s extensive military experience and closeness to Trajan meant that he was an obvious and persuasive candidate. The day after Trajan’s death it was announced that Hadrian had been adopted as his son and heir before the emperor’s death, although there were rumors that Hadrian’s supporters had staged this.

However, with the army recognizing Hadrian as emperor, the Roman senate – traditionally the highest decision-making body of the state – accepted his rule. Four senators who opposed his appointment were executed.

Soon after ascending as emperor, Hadrian declared an end to expansion of the empire and withdrew to the limits established by Augustus. A patron of the arts and lover of all things cultural, Hadrian surrounded himself with poets, philosophers and scholars. He was exceptionally skilled at writing verse and prose in both Latin and Greek.

During his reign as emperor from 117 to 138, he was able to indulge his love for architecture and travel, example of these passions still exist to amaze us, from Great Britain to Rome- Hadrian's wall, the Athenaeum, the Temple of Venus and Roma, The Pantheon, and his massive mausoleum, called Castel Sant' Angelo.