Question: Rabbit on Hispania Aureus?

[guy]

Someone (IdesOfMarch01) at cointalk posted a beautiful gold coin from the Hadrian Travel series. These coins were minted to reaffirm Roman power and prestige as the Emperor Hadrian traveled throughout the Roman Empire.
 
 

(Click on the image to enlarge.)
HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D.
AV Aureus (7.26 g.) Rome ca. 134 - 138 A.D. RIC 305
HADRIANVS - AVG COS III P P Bare head left. Rev. HISPANIA Hispania reclining left, holding branch in right hand and resting left arm on rock; in front, rabbit.
 

 

Spain was first called Iberia a name given to it by its Iberian inhabitants (from North Africa). The name was supposedly based on the Iberian word for river, Iber. They reached Spain around 6000 b.c. When the Greeks arrived on Spanish soil around 600 b.c. they referred to the peninsula as Hesperia, meaning "land of the setting sun." When the Carthaginians came around 300 b.c. they called the country Ispania (from Sphan, "rabbit"), which means "land of the rabbits." The Romans arrived a century later and adopted the Carthaginian name of the country, calling it Hispania. Later, this became the present day Spanish name for the country, España. Thus, because of the Romans and their language, the rabbits won over the sunset and over the river.

 

 

The question: What is the significance of the rabbit on reverse of this coin?

 

http://ctspanish.com/rabbits.htm

 

http://www.culturespain.com/2011/05/28/spain-rabbits-and-the-iberian-lynx/

 

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

guy also known as gaius

Edited June 6, 2016 by guy

[caesar novus]

A search turned up Romans starting rabbit farming in Spain... also they were a symbol of fecundity and related things, with links to certain mythological figures. Maybe depends what woman is waving what over the bunny.

[guy]

Thank you for the reply.

 

Here is a link to a beginner's review of the coins to commemorate Hadrian's travels:

 

 

 https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/2789/Ancient-Hadrian-coins/

 

 

 

guy also known as gaius