Æ20 - Antoninus Pius ΑΡΤΕΜΙϹ ΙΟΛΚΙΑ ΜΑΓΝΗΤωΝ

The Magnesians of Thessaly — not to be confused with Magnesia ad Maeandrum in Ionia — maintained a distinct civic identity through the imperial period, and their coinage under Antoninus Pius reflects a local religious tradition centered on Artemis Iolkia, whose cult was tied to the ancient harbor settlement of Iolkos, the legendary departure point of the Argonauts. Civic bronze issues of this type were struck at the initiative of local magistrates, funded by the city rather than the imperial treasury.