LYDIA. Stratonicaea-Hadrianopolis. Hadrian, 117-138. Assarion (Bronze, 20 mm, 4.99 g, 6 h), Kandidos, strategos, circa 128-130. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ [ΚΤ]ΙϹΤΗϹ Laureate head of Hadrian to right.
Rev. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟ
ϹΤΡ ΚΑ Zeus seated left on low throne, holding patera in his right hand and scepter in his left. BMC 9. GRPC Lydia 22 (
this coin illustrated). RPC III online 1780.13 (
this coin). Some deposits and with a flan crack
, otherwise, very fine.
Ex Leu Web Auction 28, 9 December 2023, 2277, from the collection of Eric ten Brink, Leu Web Auction 26, 8-13 July 2023, 2586, ex Classical Numismatic Group E-Auction 436, 23 January 2019, 329 and Naumann E-Auction 44, 7 August 2016, 635.
The obverse legend of this very interesting coin praises Hadrian as the city founder. Stratonicaea was, as the Hellenistic name suggests, originally founded either by Antiochos I or Eumenes II. Under Trajan, it was connected in a sympolity with its neighbouring settlement of Indeipedion, and the two settlements were eventually absorbed into Hadrian's new foundation of Stratonicaea-Hadrianopolis, established in 123.
