Silver 'denarius' of the emperor Hadrian
Roman, AD117-138
Unknown provenance
The Roman emperors were fully aware of the value of coinage as a propaganda tool. Everyone, from the provincial governor down to the peasant working the land, was likely to take notice of the ever changing messages on the reverse types of the coins they handled on a daily basis. The government was thus able to present itself and its achievements to all the inhabitants of a vast empire. Moreover, it was a means of communication in which the government had a complete monopoly. Personifications - Fortuna, or fortune, in this case shown with cornucopiae signifying prosperity - were intended to proclaim the virtues of the emperor or the good fortune of those lucky enough to live under his rule.
