The quinarius, a small silver denomination originally introduced in the Republic as half a denarius, had by Hadrian’s reign become a rarity-struck in limited numbers, often for special distributions, and seldom seen in circulation. This piece, issued early in Hadrian’s reign, shows the emperor with a laurel crown and the faint trace of drapery on his shoulder, a subtle detail adding gravitas to the otherwise compact portrait.

The reverse features Victory, advancing right with wreath and palm, a design resonant with Hadrian’s emphasis on stability and the consolidation of empire following Trajan’s expansive campaigns. Victory here is not triumphant conquest but enduring legitimacy-an image of Roman continuity as Hadrian reshaped imperial priorities toward peace, consolidation, and cultural patronage.

From the Carl Subak collection, this coin was privately purchased from Spink in January 1977 and later cited in Cathy King’s study of Roman quinarii.