PHRYGIA. Laodicea ad Lycum. Hadrian, 117-138. Medallion (Orichalcum, 39 mm, 36.40 g, 12 h), June 129 (?). AY KAI TPA AΔPIANOC ΟΛYΜΠIOC Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder.
Rev. ΛAOΔΙΚЄΩN Zeus Laodiceus standing front, head to left, holding eagle in his right hand and long scepter in his left. BMC 195. RPC III 2329.5 corr. (
this coin, illustrated on pl. 104, but drapery omitted). SNG Copenhagen 575 corr. (
same obverse die, but drapery omitted). Rare. An impressive medallion of fine style. Very minor smoothing
, otherwise, good very fine.
From the collection of Eric ten Brink, ex Leu 3, 27 October 2018, 173, and from the Group CEM Collection, Classical Numismatic Group 90, 23 May 2012, 1058, ex Waddell II, 12 September 1987, 363.
The epithet 'Olympios' was adopted by Hadrian in 128/9 following the dedication of the temple of Zeus Olympios in Athens. It emphasized the emperor's Panhellenic program and enthusiastic Philhellenism, for Zeus Olympios, chief god of the Greek peoples, was the Panhellenic god before all others. RPC suggests that the impressive Laodicean medallions bearing the new epithet were struck on the occasion of Hadrian's visit to the city in June 129.
