Æ19 - Gallienus (sole reign) (ϹΜΥΡ Γ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ)

Smyrna held the title of neokoros — temple warden of the imperial cult — three times over, a distinction advertised aggressively on civic coinage during the third century as Greek cities competed fiercely for Roman imperial favor. The gamma in the legend denotes this third grant, awarded under circumstances that remain debated but likely tied to the Severan period, with the title simply carried forward through successive reigns including Gallienus's sole rule after Valerian's capture by Shapur I in 260.