294, Lot: 502. Estimate $300. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Gaza. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ (34mm, 22.97 g, 12h). Dated Epidemia 8 and CY 196 (AD 135/6). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΓAZA upward to left, MPNAC (sic) downward to right, [H]EΠI ςЧP (dates, with ЧP ligate) followed by symbol of Marnas (Phoenician mem) in exergue, Artemis standing right, drawing arrow from quiver and holding bow, facing Marnas standing left, holding long scepter; all within distyle temple. Yashin –; Rosenberger –; SNG ANS 922 var. (“MAPNAC” to right of temple). VF, earthen green patina. An attractive large module bronze.

Hadrian visited Gaza more than once, and it was upon such a visit in AD 128 that an additional reckoning date, that of the επιδημία (imperial visit), was added. During one of his trips the great temple of Zeus-Marnas may have been founded, as it first appears on the coins of Hadrian.