Obolos 15

MYSIA. Hadrianothera. Hadrian, 117-138. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16.5 mm, 2.09 g, 6 h). AΔPIANOC AYΓOYCTOC Bare head of Hadrian to right. Rev. AΔPIANO[ΘHP]ITΩN Head of she-bear to left. AMNG 565. RPC III 1629. SNG Copenhagen 176. SNG BNF 662. SNG von Aulock 1150 (same dies). Rare and with an unusual reverse. About very fine.

This is a lovely little coin, which comes with a fascinating story. The type can be explained thanks to a related medallion that was struck in honor of Hadrian's favorite Antinoos: there the bear head comes with the two-word legend AΔPIANOY ΘHPA, (i.e., Hadrian's Hunt; see AMNG Mysia 569-570). Another issue, this time struck for Hadrian himself, shows us the actual bear hunt: the emperor is riding a horse to the right, spearing the fleeing bear (AMNG 564). This means that the city of Hadrianotherai, the name of which is best translated to mean Hadrian's Hunts or Hadrian's Hunting Expeditions, was founded by the emperor in order to commemorate a series of hunting expeditions, which were held during his visit to Mysia in 123, and that resulted in his killing of a bear. In fact, considering that Hadrian met Antinoos in Mysia, and regarding the impressive medallions Hadrianotherai later issued in the young man's honor, it seems likely that the youth accompanied the emperor during those hunts. This assumption is further reinforced by the lack of any coins in honor of Antinoos struck by Hadrian's other foundations in Mysia, Hadrianeia and Hadrianoi ad Olympum.