Bronze Diobol of Hadrian AD 131-132

Bronze Diobol (24mm 8.04g) of Hadrian AD 131-132 Alexandria

Obv: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev: Isis enthroned right, nursing Harpocrates; Lς (date RY 16) across field.

Emmett 1138

1. The Front Side (Obverse): The Greek Portrait

The front features a proud profile of Hadrian facing right, wearing a laurel wreath and imperial military armor (draped and cuirassed).

The inscription wraps around his portrait in Greek script: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB

• This is the Greek translation of his official Roman titles: Autokrator Kaisar Traianos Hadrianos Sebastos.
• AVT (Autokrator): The Greek equivalent to Imperator (Supreme Commander).
• KAI (Kaisar): Caesar.
• TPAI AΔPIA: Trajan Hadrian (honoring his adoptive father, Emperor Trajan).
• CEB (Sebastos): The Greek translation of Augustus (The Venerable/Sacred).

2. The Back Side (Reverse): An Ancient Egyptian Mystery

The back dives completely into traditional Egyptian mythology. It shows the goddess Isis sitting on a high-backed throne. She is tenderly holding and nursing her young child, Harpocrates.

Across the background, you can see a small symbol that looks like L𝚫 or L𝛓:

• The L is an ancient Egyptian shorthand symbol that means "Year."
• The Greek letter 𝛓 (Sigma) serves as the numeral 16.
• Together, this dates the coin perfectly to Regnal Year 16 of Hadrian's rule (A.D. 131–132).

What’s the hidden story here?

This coin perhaps has an incredible, deeply personal connection to what Hadrian was doing at this exact moment in history.

In A.D. 130, Hadrian and his massive royal entourage went on a famous tour of Egypt. They sailed down the Nile River, visiting ancient pyramids and temples. But the trip ended in absolute tragedy. While on the Nile, Hadrian’s beloved companion, a young man named Antinous, tragically drowned.

Hadrian was utterly heartbroken. He wept openly, founded a brand new city in Egypt named Antinoöpolis in his honor, and heavily promoted local religious cults that focused on rebirth, mourning, and protection.

The choice of Isis nursing Harpocrates (the Greek name for Horus the Child) on this coin minted right after that tragic trip is no coincidence. Isis was the ultimate mourning mother and protector goddess of Egypt, who used her magic to resurrect her dead husband Osiris and protect her vulnerable child Horus.

By striking this coin, the Alexandrian mint was honoring traditional Egyptian culture while giving a comforting nod to a grieving emperor. It stands as a beautiful, 1,900-year-old intersection of Roman politics, Greek language, and ancient Egyptian faith!