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Æ36 - Septimius Severus ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ, ΠΡΩΤΩΝ ΑϹΙΑϹ
| Issuer | Ephesus (Ionia, Roman Provincial Mint) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
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| Composition | Bronze |
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| Reverse description | A warship (galley) depicted in left profile occupies the central field, with a detailed rendering of the hull, oars along the lower strake, and a curved prow terminating in a ram. The vessel is shown under oar, conveying the maritime prominence of Ephesus as a leading port city of the province of Asia. The Greek reverse legend is divided above and below the galley, proclaiming Ephesus as first city of Asia. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Ephesus held the title *prōtē tēs Asias* — "first of Asia" — not merely as honorific vanity but as a fiercely contested civic status that determined religious precedence, festival rankings, and the right to host imperial cult ceremonies. Rival cities, particularly Smyrna and Pergamon, disputed it continuously, and the claim was periodically adjudicated by Rome. That Ephesus struck coins advertising this primacy under Septimius Severus reflects active lobbying during a reign when the emperor was consolidating eastern support after defeating Pescennius Niger, whose base had been precisely these Aegean and Asian cities.