Æ31 - Hadrian ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ ΛΗΤΩ

Magnesia ad Maeandrum staked its civic identity heavily on the myth of Leto, claiming the goddess gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on their territory — a claim disputed by Delos and several other cities across the Greek world. The city exploited this mythology aggressively in its coinage under Hadrian, an emperor known to actively encourage provincial civic cults, particularly those tied to Apollo, whose patronage he personally cultivated throughout his reign.

The Conventus of Miletus administered a dense cluster of competing poleis, each angling for imperial favor through religious distinction. Magnesia's insistence on the Leto nativity myth was partly a jurisdictional argument.