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Stater - Kotys II Hadrian
| Issuer | Bosporan Kingdom (Bosporos) |
|---|---|
| Year | 132 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Stater (1) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Laureate head of the Roman Emperor Hadrian facing right, rendered with characteristic beard and Imperial laurel wreath, reflecting the Bosporan kingdom's subordinate relationship with Rome. The portrait displays fine engraving of facial features and the laurel wreath in the prevailing provincial style. On certain specimens, a spearhead appears in the field before the portrait. The abbreviated Bosporan regnal date in Greek numerals is inscribed below the portrait in the lower field, as visible on this example with the legend ΗΚΥ. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | ΗΚΥ (Translation: [year] 428) |
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| Additional information |
Kotys II ruled the Bosporan Kingdom as a client king under Roman suzerainty, and this stater reflects the peculiar dual allegiance that defined Bosporan coinage of the period — the obverse bearing the reigning Roman emperor while the Bosporan dynast appeared on the reverse, a convention that made the kingdom's political subordination literally visible in precious metal. Hadrian's visit to the Black Sea region around 131–132 AD may have prompted a fresh issue, as client kingdoms routinely marked imperial attention with new coin series.
The gold stater tradition at the Bosporan mint stretches back centuries, but by the 2nd century the alloy had declined significantly from Hellenistic-era fineness. Specimens from this reign show considerable variation in gold purity across the Anokhin sequence.