Cyme, one of the oldest Greek foundations on the Aeolian coast, retained the right to strike civic bronze under Roman rule well into the third century — a privilege that depended on maintaining good standing with the provincial administration at Smyrna. The joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, which began in 253 following Valerian's elevation after the death of Aemilianus, provided a window of relative stability during which several Aeolian cities resumed or expanded local bronze production.
The magistrate name ΕΡΜΕΙΑϹ appearing on this issue anchors it to a specific civic official whose term can sometimes be cross-referenced across multiple denominations from the same city.
Cyme, one of the oldest Greek foundations on the Aeolian coast, retained the right to strike civic bronze under Roman rule well into the third century — a privilege that depended on maintaining good standing with the provincial administration at Smyrna. The joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, which began in 253 following Valerian's elevation after the death of Aemilianus, provided a window of relative stability during which several Aeolian cities resumed or expanded local bronze production.
The magistrate name ΕΡΜΕΙΑϹ appearing on this issue anchors it to a specific civic official whose term can sometimes be cross-referenced across multiple denominations from the same city.