Coins issued by the emperors Trajan and Hadrian

Mike Stone, retired as curator of Chippenham Museum in 2010, an archaeologist at heart, he now gives talks to various groups including Cruise Ships. His talk to the Wiltshire Numismatic Society on April 17th was complemented by slides of some superb coins issued by the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, together with a comprehensive study of each emperors achievements in establishing and furthering the Roman Empire throughout Europe and beyond. The emperors reign extended from 117AD to around 138AD and in this short period of history between them they built some fantastic monuments and buildings in and around Rome, many illustrated on the coins shown. Hadrian being best known for the wall between England and Scotland which he built in 122AD being 73 miles in length. During this period of the Roman Empire the coinage was gradually debased and the coins illustrated clearly showed this downturn in the quality of Gold and Silver coins of the period.