Tarsos (AD 117-138) Tetradrachm - Hadrian & Sabina

Hadrian, with Sabina, 117-138 AD. AR Tetradrachm (13.65g, 27mm, 6h). AYT KAI ΘE (TP)A ΠAP YI ΘE N-EP YI (TP)A AΔPIANOC CE- (Π Π), laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right, with aegis on breastplate, slight drapery on shoulder / AY CABEINA CEBACTH KAI AΔPI TAP MH(TP)OΠOΛEΩC, draped bust of Sabina right, wearing stephane; cornucopia behind. EF, minor scuffs and scratches on each bust under old tone. Exceptional portraits. From the Sierra Collection. Ex Gemini III (1/2007), lot 384.

The coinage of Tarsus, like that of the Antioch mint, gives exceptionally full titles for Hadrian, as can be witnessed on this and the previous lot. Here we find an interesting detail in the titles of Sabina as well. The AY can only stand for Augusta, which is quite redundant as the legend also names her the Greek equivalent Σεβαστή.