AR24 - Hadrian L ΚΑ

Year 21 of Hadrian's reign fell during his second extended stay in Egypt, following his famous Nile journey of 130–131 AD — the same tour during which his favourite Antinous drowned and was subsequently deified. The Alexandrian mint's output for regnal year 21 (L ΚΑ) is well-attested across multiple types, reflecting the administrative stability of a province that had been thoroughly reorganised under Roman prefectural control since Augustus absorbed it in 30 BC.

The billon and silver tetradrachm series from this year are distinguished from earlier Hadrianic issues by a shift in reverse type selection, likely coordinated with the imperial court rather than left to local discretion.