CILICIA, Tarsus. Antinoüs. Died AD 130. Æ (33mm, 24.38 g, 12h). Struck under Hadrian. Near VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 454. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Provincial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 2 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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CILICIA, Tarsus. Antinoüs. Died AD 130. Æ (33mm, 24.38 g, 12h). Struck under Hadrian. Draped bust left, wearing hem-hem crown; to left, star / Antinoüs, as river-god Kyndos, crowned with sedge, reclining left, holding branch and reed, resting elbow on urn from which water flows. RPC III 3294 corr. (branch described as cornucopia); SNG BN 1415; Blum 11. Green patina, scratches, scrape on obverse. Near VF. Very rare.

One of the most remarkable cults of the ancient world was that which was formed around Antinoüs, a handsome youth from Claudiopolis in Bithynia who attracted the attention of the emperor Hadrian and became his constant companion. Hadrian apparently encountered Antinoüs during a visit to Bithynia circa AD 123 and brought him back to Rome for higher education. He became one of the emperor’s pages and, by AD 128, an important part of his traveling retinue. During the emperor’s tour of Egypt in October AD 130, Antinoüs fell into the Nile and drowned, resulting in suspicions of suicide or ritual murder. The distraught Hadrian had his favorite immediately deified, and the worship of Antinoüs became an important facet of the imperial cult in the eastern Roman Empire.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Two – Lot 309-594 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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