u/trabuco357

Let’s look at something magnificently interesting because of its great rarity. It is a coin “purse” dating from the Emirate period (9th century), during the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. It was found like this: filled with silver coins (dirhams) from the Emirate of Córdoba. Only two
known.

Hadrian, AD 117–138. AR Cistophorus (10.93 g), struck in Asia Minor after AD 128 at an uncertain mint.

Obverse: Bare head of Hadrian facing right.
Reverse: Cult statue of Artemis Ephesia standing facing, arms extended, flanked by stags and thymiateria (incense burners).

The reverse honors Artemis Ephesia, the great patron goddess of Ephesus and one of the most venerated deities of the eastern Roman Empire. Unlike the familiar Greek huntress Artemis, the Ephesian goddess was worshipped in a distinctive local form, represented by an ancient cult image closely associated with fertility, protection, and prosperity.

By featuring Artemis Ephesia on this cistophorus, Hadrian emphasized his close relationship with the Greek cities of Asia Minor and demonstrated imperial respect for their longstanding religious traditions. The type reflects the emperor’s well-known philhellenism and likely relates to his journeys through the eastern provinces after AD 128, when he actively promoted civic loyalty, cultural continuity, and the restoration of important sanctuaries.

The image also celebrates the prestige of Ephesus, home to the renowned Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Through this powerful religious symbolism, Hadrian presented himself as both protector and benefactor of the Greek East, reinforcing the bonds between Rome and its prosperous eastern provinces.

Principat, Barcelona mint. Portrait of the king shows the transition from the gothic style to that of the renaissance.