Odessos, on the Black Sea coast of modern Bulgaria, was a prosperous Greek colonial city whose civic coinage under the Severans and their successors forms one of the denser provincial series in Lower Moesia. The mark Ε appearing on this issue has been interpreted as a denomination or series control numeral within the city's own internal hierarchy of bronze denominations — a local administrative decision with no parallel in imperial mint practice.
Gordian III's reign saw a surge in provincial civic bronze output across the Balkans, likely filling a gap left by the disruption of central silver supplies during the preceding crisis years of 235–238.
Odessos, on the Black Sea coast of modern Bulgaria, was a prosperous Greek colonial city whose civic coinage under the Severans and their successors forms one of the denser provincial series in Lower Moesia. The mark Ε appearing on this issue has been interpreted as a denomination or series control numeral within the city's own internal hierarchy of bronze denominations — a local administrative decision with no parallel in imperial mint practice.
Gordian III's reign saw a surge in provincial civic bronze output across the Balkans, likely filling a gap left by the disruption of central silver supplies during the preceding crisis years of 235–238.