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Orbis Collectibles

Dardanos, Hadrian, bronze coin — Zeus in the form of an eagle left (CN type 3997)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 117–138

Issuing entity

Troas

Coin in bronze struck at Dardanos in Troas under Hadrian, dated AD 117–138. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3997 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Hadrian, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ ϹЄΒΑ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ. Reverse: Zeus in the form of an eagle left, abducting Ganymede with Phrygian cap, chlamys and holding pedum in right hand. Legend: ΔΑΡΔΑΝЄWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.29 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 21.8 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Amandry et al., RPC III: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. III: Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian (AD 96-138), London:  Paris 2015, p. 188, nr. 1564, pl. 67, pic. 1564; Bloesch, Griechische Münzen in Winterthur, Winterthur 1987, p. 44, nr. 2733, pl. 122, pic. 2733; Imhoof-Blumer, Zur griechischen und römischen Münzkunde, Genf 1908, p. 53, nr. 1, pl. 4, pic. 10; Linked type corpus, RPC III, 1564.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
4

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Dardanus, also called Dardanos or Dardania, was an ancient polis situated in the Troad that had previously formed part of the Athenian Empire in the 5th century BC. This civic bronze issue was struck by the city during the Roman Imperial Period under Hadrian, who served as Roman emperor from 117 to 138. A member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty whose imperial title was Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, Hadrian travelled extensively across the provinces of the Roman Empire and actively promoted philhellenism.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
21.8 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.29 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Dardanos
Region
Troas
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Hadrian

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Hadrian, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Zeus in the form of an eagle left, abducting Ganymede with Phrygian cap, chlamys and holding pedum in right hand.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ ϹЄΒΑ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΔΑΡΔΑΝЄWΝ

Identification

Period
Roman Imperial Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/3997
Type corpus identifier
CN type 3997

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

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