CILICIA. Tarsus. Hadrian, 117-138. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 9.94 g, 12 h), mid 120s. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CE Laureate bust of Hadrian to right, with balteus and drapery on his far shoulder. Rev. TAPCEΩN MHTPOΠΟΛΕΩC Sandan, wearing long robes and tall headdress, with a sword and bowcase over his left shoulder, raising his right hand and holding a wreath and bipennis in his left, standing right on a horned lion walking to right. Prieur 768. RPC III 3267. Clear and nicely centered, with a fascinating reverse. Minor graffito on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.
From a European collection.
Sandan (or Sandon or Sandas) was an ancient Anatolian god associated with both war and the weather, and was known in the area of Tarsos from Hittite times (the second half of the 2nd millenium BC). The figure of Sandan on a lion first appears on the coinage of Tarsus in the 2nd century BC, but it was certainly much older. The shrine to Sandan in Tarsus existed at least until the 3rd century AD (see above, lot 183, for a late Hellenistic depiction of the Sandan shrine).