MYSIA. Hadrianotherae. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 15 mm, 2.55 g, 11 h), Marcus Ner. Longinus, strategos, time of Hadrian, 117-138. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΘΗΡ[ΙΤΩΝ] Head of a bear to left. Rev. [ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡ Μ] ΝΕΡ ΛΟΝΓΙΝΟΥ Telesphorus standing facing. Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 62, 2 (this coin). RPC III 1625. SNG Paris 1088. SNG von Aulock 1083. Von Fritze 558. Very rare. Thin flan crack and with minor deposits, otherwise, about very fine.


Hadrian was a great lover of the hunt, to the extent that he founded the city of Hadrianotherai (the name literally means: 'Hadrian's hunts') on the spot of a successful bear hunt in Mysia. The head of the dreaded wild animal is shown on local medallions of Antinoüs, who must have accompanied the emperor on the hunting expedition, and on this lovely small issue of the Philhellenic emperor himself.