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Æ23 - Septimius Severus ΑΦΡΟΔΕΙϹΙΕΩΝ
| Issuer | Aphrodisias (Conventus of Alabanda) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | RPC V.2#67541 |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Dionysus standing facing, clad in a long chiton, his head turned to the left. His left arm rests upon a tall column for support, while his right hand holds a thyrsus; in his other hand he extends a bunch of grapes over a panther positioned to the left at his feet. The composition reflects standard Dionysiac iconography common in the coinage of Carian cities during the Severan period. The encircling legend ΑΦΡΟΔΕΙϹΙΕΩΝ identifies the issuing civic authority. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Aphrodisias held an unusual position among Anatolian cities under the Severan dynasty — it had cultivated Roman favor aggressively since the late Republic, accumulating a body of privileges that included exemption from provincial taxation and the right to asylum. Septimius Severus confirmed and extended these privileges early in his reign, which likely explains the civic enthusiasm for issuing bronze coinage bearing his name. The city's close identification with the goddess after whom it was named gave it a degree of soft diplomatic leverage that most conventus cities simply lacked.