Hadrian, 117-138. Cistophorus circa 136, Nicomedia in Bithynia. IMP CAES TRA - HADRIANO AVG P P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SP - QR Temple with eight columns. On frieze, ROM AVG. In exergue, COM BIT. 11,34g. Cohen -; RIC -; Metcalf, "The Cistophori of Hadrian", 1980, B 15.36 (this coin); SNG von Aulock 6606 (this coin). Very rare. An extraordinary specimen of the finest style. The best known. A portrait of enchanting beauty struck in high relief. Extremely fine. Provenance: H. von Aulock Collection (1906-1980), published in 1964. Leu 48 (10 May 1989), 347. JDL Collection, assembled between 1977 and 2013, NAC 74 (18 November 2013), 307. Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. This is one of the finest cistophori to have survived, a coin that perfectly illustrates the refinement of Roman coinage under Hadrian. The obverse bears a portrait of the emperor, rendered with remarkable finesse and precision. The quality of the engraving, the delicacy of the features, and the profusion of detail testify to the exceptional skill of the die engravers employed for this issue. At a time when Hadrian himself was deeply passionate about art, Greek culture, and architecture, it is particularly fitting to see his portrait appear on a coin that itself achieves such a high degree of artistic excellence. The inscription on the reverse identifies the mint as Nicomedia, the capital of the province of Bithynia and one of the Empire’s prosperous cities. Around 28 BC, the city erected a temple dedicated to Roma and Augustus. No trace of the building survives today, making the reverse of this cistophorus one of the few surviving sources of information about its monumental architecture. It is likely that the temple was restored under Hadrian, which may explain its representation on this issue. This cistophorus was struck as part of a major monetary programme intended to introduce cistophoric coinage into Bithynia. Some scholars view this as an expression of Hadrian’s philhellenic policies and his desire to promote the Greek cities of Asia Minor. Others favour a more economic explanation: the melting of older cistophori and their replacement with this new issue may have allowed their value to be reassessed, from three to four denarii. Whatever the precise motivation behind the programme, this cistophorus is far more than a mere monetary instrument: it is a true miniature work of art, reflecting the tastes and cultural ambitions of Hadrian.