Ancient Coin Stories

Stratonikeia in Lydia was located roughly between Germe and Akrasos and was founded on the site of a more ancient village called Indi. Archeological evidence indicates the site was occupied at least since the 6th century BCE. The newer city may have been founded by Eumenes II, but it may have had Seleukid origins. Most likely, some ruler named it after his wife Stratonike, but this was an extremely common name for queens of that era and time.

During the reign of Trajan, the city became more important, and during Hadrian‘s reign it was renamed in his honor. This coin comes from the period when it was called Hadrianopolis.