Hadrian, 117-138. Æ Sestertius AD 134/138, Nilus, Very Rare.

Hadrian, 117-138. Æ Sestertius AD 134/138, Rome; 32 mm. 28.5 gm. Obv: Draped bust of Hadrian facing left, HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP, Rev: Nilus reclining left, holding cornucopia and small child, another child looks over his shoulder and another rides a Hippopotamus at his feet, crocodile below. Cohen 986, RIC 870. Very Rare with both bust and Nilus facing left. Cayon 555 variant (only reverse shown), Banti cites only one specimen (not illustrated), in the BNf in Paris. The image of Nilus reclining may have been inspired by a statue erected under Vespasian in the temple of Pax, as cited by Pliny the Elder. A later copy of this statue was discovered in the ruins of the temple of Isis in 1513 and now resides in the Vatican.