Colophon's civic bronze coinage under Commodus was tied directly to the tenure of named provincial strategoi — the magistrate cited here, Faustus, held office for a second term (ΤΟ Β indicating his second strategia), which is why this type exists at all. Such issues were essentially civic vanity projects as much as functional currency, with local magistrates financing production in exchange for the honor of having their name struck in bronze. Faustus's second term falls within the window of 184–188, narrowing the issue to a specific administrative cycle within the Ephesian conventus.
Colophon's civic bronze coinage under Commodus was tied directly to the tenure of named provincial strategoi — the magistrate cited here, Faustus, held office for a second term (ΤΟ Β indicating his second strategia), which is why this type exists at all. Such issues were essentially civic vanity projects as much as functional currency, with local magistrates financing production in exchange for the honor of having their name struck in bronze. Faustus's second term falls within the window of 184–188, narrowing the issue to a specific administrative cycle within the Ephesian conventus.