Hadrian, 117-138. Cistophorus (Silver, 25 mm, 10.14 g, 12 h), Hierapolis. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P Bare-headed and draped bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. Incuse of obverse. Cf. Metcalf 248 (O11) and RPC III online 1394-8. An extremely rare brockage mint error. Sharply struck and with excellent reverse details. Slightly porous and with minor marks and traces of overstriking, otherwise, very fine.



Unlike denarii, brockage mint errors are extremely rare among cistophori, likely because these large silver coins were much less prone to getting stuck in the reverse die. The only other example known to this cataloguer is a cistophorus of Domitian, auctioned in 2001 (Classical Numismatic Group 57, 4 April 2001, no. 1169).