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Æ14 - Septimius Severus ΥΡΚΑΝΩΝ
| Issuer | Hyrcanis (Conventus of Smyrna) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Bare head of Heracles facing right, bearded, with traces of the Nemean lion's skin draped over the head and knotted at the neck. The portrait is rendered in a compact, somewhat archaic provincial style characteristic of the Conventus of Smyrna under the Severan period. The field is plain and no legend is present, the identification relying entirely on the type and associated reverse inscription. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Hyrcanis was a small Lydian settlement whose civic coinage was modest in both output and ambition — the city rarely minted in large volume, and its bronze issues are genuinely scarce in any condition. The reign of Septimius Severus saw a burst of provincial bronze activity across the conventus of Smyrna as cities rushed to honor the new dynasty following the turbulent Year of the Five Emperors in 193 AD.
At 1.53g, this piece is on the light end even for small Lydian civic bronzes, suggesting either significant die wear at striking or deliberate weight reduction during a period of monetary strain in the province.