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Æ21 - Gordian III ΚΥΖΙΚΗΝΩΝ ΝΕΩΚ (Ρ)
| Issuer | Cyzicus (Conventus of Cyzicus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 238-244 |
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| Reference(s) | RPC VII.1#28.1 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Reverse description | A lighted torch set upright, with a serpent entwined about its shaft, the type facing left; the device is a characteristic religious emblem associated with mystery cult iconography at Cyzicus. The neocorate legend is disposed around the field in Greek characters, attesting to the city's honored status as a temple-warden. The overall composition is set within a dotted border on an irregularly shaped flan, consistent with provincial bronze coinage of the Severan-Gordian period. |
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| Additional information |
Cyzicus held the rare distinction of multiple neokorate titles — the right to maintain an imperial temple cult — awarded across successive reigns, and the ΝΕΩΚ legend on this issue reflects that civic pride made explicit on bronze. The city lobbied aggressively for each title, and their retention under Gordian III was not guaranteed given the political chaos of 238, the Year of the Six Emperors. That Cyzicus emerged from that year with its privileges intact says something about its administrative importance within the Conventus.