TELLVS STABIL.--A man in a short rustic vestment stands holding in his right hand an implement which appears to be a weed-hook; and in his left a rake. Gold and silver of Hadrian.
TELLVS STABIL.--A woman, seated on the ground, leaning upon a basket of fruit, and touching with her right hand a large globe. Silver and brass of Hadrian.
[These types, and the epigraph which accompanies each--Tellus Stabilita--(the earth firmly established) are evidently allegorical; but numismatists seem more inclined to reject each other's explanations on the subject than to impart any that shall be satisfactory either to themselves or to their readers.-- Tristan gives us, in one of his neat engravings, a medal, having this legend on its reverse, with the male figure holding in one hand a plough share, in the other an anchor, and at his feet are two corn-ears. The commentary of this fine old French writer is to the following effect, viz., that the device of "the earth rendered firm" (La Terre Affermie), does not allude solely to the re-establishment of agriculture, by the country being relieved from all fears of war as well external as domestic, and a permanent state of peace being secured for "the whole world" by the prudent and wise policy of Hadrian; but it also seems to praise that emperor for his "piety," as evinced by the zealous attention he manifested to the ceremonies of religious worship in every |part| of the empire--conduct which had so propitiated the favour of the gods, that the Roman provinces, it was believed, would thenceforth be no more desolated by earthquakes, such as at the commencement of his reign had frequently occurred, to the ruin of many cities, but which, according to Spartian, Hadrian had caused to be effectually and in some instances splendidly rebuilt. Thus restoring confidence where terror before prevailed, and plenty where famine had annihilated everything.-- The anchor (adds Tristan, Com. Hist. i. 479) is the mark of the one, and the plough-share and corn-ears indicate the other.-- Vaillant entertains an unhesitatingly expressed opinion that the drainage of the lake Fucinus is the subject alluded to--an opinion certainly untenable.-- Eckhel, whilst throwing a doubt on Tristan's ingenious attempt at interpretation, and utterly rejecting Vaillant's as "preposterous," offers on his own |part| no other clue to the occult meaning of this reverse, than one which rests on a brass medallion of Hadrian, of whose genuineness he confesses a strong suspicion. It is quoted from the Mus. Theupoli, as having for legend TELLVS STABILITA (at full length), and for type a woman seated on the ground, who places her right hand on a globe, round which are seen several boys, or girls.-- A similar type appears on a coin of Julia Domna, inscribed FELICITAS TEMPORVM. But neither Mionnet nor Akerman recognises the medallion described by the editor of the Museum Theupoli, as bearing the epigraph of Tellus Stabilita.-- Hadrian, however, as Eckhel himself observes, might truly be said (in a political sense) to have given stability to the earth, when, having suppressed all internal seditions, and banished all apprehension of foreign wars, he took measures for restraining the avarice of governors, and diffused throughout his vast dominions the blessings of peace, liberty, and public safety.]