Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1473. Estimate $400.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $1050. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HADRIAN. 117-138 AD. Æ Sestertius (25.72 gm). Struck circa 134-138 AD. Laureate head right / Decastyle temple set on three-tiered base; Victories as acroteria, columns surmounted by statues and set on pedestals on either side. RIC II -; Strack 660; BMCRE -; Cohen -. Near VF, black patina. Extremely rare, only one other example of this type is known: that from the Ryan Collection (Glendining, 2 April 1952), lot 2580. ($400)

From the Tony Hardy Collection.

The great temple of Venus and Rome, was actually two temples that were built back-to-back. Dedigned by Hadrian, the temple of Venus faced the Flavian ampitheatre and that of Rome overlooked the Forum. Construction began in 121 AD, but was not completed until 141 AD under Antoninus Pius. The temple was destroyed by fire in 307 AD, and later rebuilt by Maxentius. Its remains can still be seen in Rome today.