BITHYNIA. Koinon of Bithynia. Hadrian, 117-138. (Bronze, 34 mm, 24.52 g, 6 h). AYT KAIC TRAI [AΔ]PIANOC CEB Laureate head of Hadrian to right. Rev. KOI - NON / BEIΘYNIAC Octastyle temple with she-wolf suckling the twins in pediment, palmettes as acroteria. BMC 14-15. RG 43. RPC III 1009.10 ( this coin ). Brown patina. Porosity, otherwise, about very fine.

According to Polybius, when coming before the Roman Senate, King Prusias I of Bithynia prostrated himself, addressing the assembly as "Saviour Gods." This would have been proper etiquette at his own court, but it was embarrassing to the Romans. Equating Roman leaders and Roman rule as divinely inspired, the cult to Imperial Rome soon sprang up and flourished throughout the subject provinces of the growing Empire, especially in the East. The reverse of this coin shows a temple façade with the a she-wolf sucking the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, in the pediment, and illustrates the imporance of this imperial cult to the people of Bithynia.

Published in RPC