Antinous, Favourite of Hadrian Medallion, Smirna (Ionia) after 134, Æ 38mm., 37.24g. ANTINOOC - HPΩC Bare head of Antinous l. Rev. ΠOΛEMΩN ANEΘHKE CMVPNAIOIC Ram standing r.; in front, caduceus. BMC 340. Blum, Antinoos, 6.

Rare. Brown-green patina. Weakly strike. Good Very Fine.

The appearance on coinage of Antinous, the favourite companion of the emperor Hadrian, is remarkable, for he was not related to the emperor by blood or marriage, and was never an heir-apparent. Indeed, Antinous is honoured only after his death and deification. Antinous’ cult was wide-spread, and a great many busts were produced: at least 1,500 can be presumably attested, of which at least 115 survive today. His coinage was also substantial, with more than 30 mints striking approximately 150 different issues. Though most of these coins were struck during the reign of Hadrian, concentrating from 134 to 137, it is believed that a few mints continued to strike them as late as the reign of Marcus Aurelius, and that his hometown of Bithynium (Claudiopolis) perhaps issued them as late as the time of Caracalla. In addition, winning bids of EEC clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.