Ilium — the city built atop the ruins of Troy — maintained a civic identity inseparable from its mythological past, and its imperial-era bronze coinage was largely a vehicle for that claim. Under the Severan dynasty, several Asian mints issued civic bronzes as a matter of local prestige rather than imperial directive, with types and quantities determined by the boule rather than Rome.
The spelling ΙΛΙΕΩΝ on the legend reflects the standard Ionic genitive used by the city on its coinage throughout the imperial period.
Ilium — the city built atop the ruins of Troy — maintained a civic identity inseparable from its mythological past, and its imperial-era bronze coinage was largely a vehicle for that claim. Under the Severan dynasty, several Asian mints issued civic bronzes as a matter of local prestige rather than imperial directive, with types and quantities determined by the boule rather than Rome.
The spelling ΙΛΙΕΩΝ on the legend reflects the standard Ionic genitive used by the city on its coinage throughout the imperial period.