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Search Advanced Search Search By Coin ID     Home ANCIENT/BYZANTINE Ancient Spain (872) Byzantine (753) MEDIEVAL/EARLY WORLD Germany (30) MODERN WORLD COUNTERFEITS AND IMITATIONS   Submit New Coin(s)   Sponsors page Terms of Service Contact Us About Us FAQ Page Coin Detail Click here to see enlarged image. ID:     721187      [UNVERIFIED] Type:     Roman Provincial Region:     CILICIA City:     Aegeae Issuer:     Hadrian Date Ruled:     AD 117-138 Metal:     Silver Denomination:     Tridrachm Struck / Cast:     struck Date Struck:     AD 117-118 Weight:     10.50 g Die Axis:     7 h Obverse Legend:     AVTOKP KAIC TPAIANOC AΔPIANOC CEB Obverse Description:     Laureate heroic bust of Hadrian right, slight drapery on left shoulder Reverse Legend:     ETOYC ΔΞΡ AIΓEAIΩN Reverse Description:     Diademed head of Alexander III of Macedon right; below, goat, head right, kneeling left; DXR (date) in legend Primary Reference:     Prieur 715 Reference2:     SNG Levante - Reference3:     SNG France 2326 Photograph Credit:     Classical Numismatic Group Source:     http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=84955 Grade:     VF, minor porosity. Notes:     Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 1187 Some question has arisen regarding the identification of the portrait on the reverse of this issue. Prieur identifies it as Perseus, the hero who slew Medusa and rescued the princess Andromeda. SNG France, on the other hand, opts for Alexander the Great. While some coins from this region do use the portrait of Perseus as a type, his identifying symbols, the gorgoneion, the winged helmet, and, especially, the harpa, are always included along with his portrait. Apart from Prieur 717, these attributes appear nowhere on this issue. The diademed head is indicative of a Hellenistic ruler, and the portrait bears a remarkable similarity to the known portraits of Alexander the Great. It is possible that, since Cilician Aegeae was the namesake of the old Macedonian capital, the inclusion of Alexander’s portrait made an attractive, if not actual, reference to the Hellenistic past. At the same time, given that these coins were struck on behalf of the philhellenic emperor Hadrian, the connection between himself and the great Macedonian king would not have been missed. It is quite possible, given the great rarity of this type, that this was a special issue, perhaps struck while the emperor himself was visiting the region.

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