Æ27 - Marcus Aurelius ΕΠΙ ϹΤ (Α) ΚΛ ΠΡΟΚΛΟΥ ϹΟΦΙϹΤΟΥ ϹΜΥΡ

Proklos the Sophist held the position of asiarch or grammateus at Smyrna during the early Antonine period, and his name appearing prominently in the coin's legend reflects the Greek East's deeply entrenched practice of tying civic coinage to prominent local magistrates — men whose personal prestige and financial contributions to the mint often determined whether an issue was struck at all. Smyrna was one of the wealthiest and most competitive cities in Asia Minor, locked in perpetual rivalry with Ephesus and Pergamon over the title of "First City of Asia."