ROMAN EMPIRE. HADRIAN, 117-138 AD
Silver cistophoros, 10.13 g., 28 mm., minted at an uncertain Asian mint, ca. AD 124-128
Obv. HADRIANVS-AVGVSTVS P P, draped bust of Hadrian right.
Rev. COS III, Athena (Minerva) standing left, holding patera, two deer seen standing on either side. 
NGC graded VF, Strike 5/4  Surface 4/5, FINE STYLE “overstruck”. As customary for the series this coin was overstruck on an earlier cistophorus – 
The reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117 to 138) was extraordinary in many ways, not the least of which was coinage. His standard imperial issues have always been of great fascination to collectors, and his provincial issues are perhaps even more intriguing.
Chief among the coins that Hadrian struck in the provinces were silver Cistophorus — large, silver coins for local commercial use. It was also used to pay Roman soldiers and other mercenaries loyal to the Empire.
Most coins struck for use in Rome’s provinces were made of copper or one of its principal alloys. None are known in gold, yet some large and important issues were struck in silver or in billon (a composition of debased silver). The cistophorus, a large silver coin of three drachms or 4 Denarius in value, is thought to have been introduced sometime between circa 180 and 167 B.C. by the Pergamene King Eumenes II. Starting in A.D. 128 or 129, the Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117 to 138) issued a very large number of cistophori using as his planchets old, worn pieces he withdrew from circulation. They were struck at numerous mints throughout Asia Minor, with the variety of reverse types being nothing less than extraordinary.