★ An exceptional hemiassarion of Hadrian relating to a bear's hunt ★

MYSIA. Hadrianotherae. Hadrian, 117-138. Hemiassarion (Orichalcum, 15 mm, 3.11 g, 6 h). AΔPIANOC AYΓOYCTOC Bare head of Hadrian to right. Rev. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΘΗΡΙΤΩΝ Head of a bear to left. RPC III 1629.12 ( this coin, uncleaned). AMNG IV, 565. Rare and in exceptional condition for this interesting issue. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, good 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.