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Æ15 - Hadrian ΚΥ-Ζ
| Issuer | Cyzicus (Conventus of Cyzicus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 117-138 |
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| Composition | Bronze |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and cuirassed bust of Emperor Hadrian facing left, rendered in the provincial style typical of the Cyzicus mint. The emperor's portrait displays the characteristic short beard associated with Hadrian's coinage. The obverse legend, partially visible around the bust, reads ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ϹΕ Κ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟΥ, identifying the emperor as Hadrian Augustus Caesar Trajan. The flan is irregular, as is common for small provincial bronze issues of this period. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A dolphin entwined around an upright trident, centrally placed within the field — a well-attested civic type of Cyzicus referencing the city's maritime character and its association with Poseidon. The reverse design is set within a beaded border, and the abbreviated ethnic legend ΚΥ-Ζ appears divided on either side of the central device, denoting the issuing city of the Cyzicenes. The type is rendered in low relief characteristic of small-module provincial bronzes of the Hadrianic period. |
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| Additional information |
Cyzicus was among the most commercially active cities on the Propontis, and its civic bronze issues under Hadrian reflect a mint operating with considerable local autonomy during a reign defined by provincial investment. Hadrian visited Asia Minor twice, and his tours through the conventus cities were occasions for renewed civic privileges — Cyzicus received the title of neokoros, custodian of an imperial cult temple, making its honorific relationship with the emperor unusually direct.
The ΚΥ-Ζ magistrate abbreviation places this among a identifiable subgroup within the civic series.