No emperor before him had traveled so many of the territories dominated by Rome; nobody knew the problems of the Roman provinces better than Emperor Hadrian (117-138).
Hadrian's travels were a distinct expression of his program to recognize all provinces as equal members of the Roman Empire. In the summer of 128 he visited North Africa to advance road building and to inspect the troops. Back in Rome he had denarii minted that depicted a personification of Africa. On these coins the goddess wears the scalp of an elephant. She holds a cornucopia in her left hand and a scorpion in her right; at her feet sits a basket full of fruit and grain.