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Æ29 - Gordian III ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΩΝ ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ
| Issuer | Ephesus (Conventus of Ephesus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 238-244 |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts a homonoia type celebrating the concord between the cities of Ephesus and Alexandria. The cult statue of Artemis Ephesia, the distinctive xoanon form with multiple attributes, stands facing frontally, flanked by Sarapis standing to the left with his right arm raised and holding a sceptre. The composition emphasizes the religious and civic bonds between the two great metropoleis of the eastern Roman world. The Greek legend encircles the field, identifying the issuing cities. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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This coin was struck as a formal expression of *homonoia* — a political concordat between two cities advertising shared civic harmony, often prompted by rivalry rather than genuine goodwill. The pairing of Ephesus and Alexandria is notable: both were among the largest cities in the eastern empire, and both aggressively competed for honorific titles from Rome. A homonoia issue between them was as much a public relations exercise as a diplomatic one.
Gordian III's reign saw a surge in such inter-city issues across Asia Minor, likely encouraged by his administration as a way of managing eastern civic tensions without direct Roman intervention.