Æ20 - Hadrian ϹΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ

Sardis held special administrative weight as the seat of one of the seven judicial districts — the conventus — into which Rome organized the province of Asia. Civic bronzes struck there under Hadrian reflect a city still trading on its ancient Lydian prestige while competing with Smyrna and Ephesus for imperial favor. Hadrian visited Asia Minor in 123–124 AD and again around 129, and his tours prompted a wave of honorific coin issues across the region's cities.

The spelling ϹΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, using lunate sigma, is the expected Koine form for this period.