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Æ37 - Septimius Severus ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΝ ΙΩΝΙΑ
| Issuer | Metropolis (Ionia) (Conventus of Ephesus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Reverse description | Zeus enthroned left upon an ornate seat, his extended right hand presenting an eagle, symbol of divine sovereignty and imperial power, while his left hand rests upon a long vertical sceptre. The figure of Zeus is rendered in the classical Hellenistic tradition common to Ionian civic coinage, with the deity's drapery falling across the lower body. The reverse legend, distributed around the field in Greek letters, proclaims the issuing civic authority of the Metropolitans of Ionia. |
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| Additional information |
Metropolis in Ionia was a minor city that punched above its weight in the provincial coinage game specifically because it held the title of metropolis within the Ephesian conventus — a designation that carried real administrative meaning and which civic authorities were eager to broadcast on bronze. The Greek legend ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΝ ΙΩΝΙΑ is essentially a jurisdictional boast, asserting primacy among Ionian cities under Roman administrative organization. Whether that claim was universally accepted by neighboring cities like Smyrna or Ephesus is another matter entirely.
Issues under Septimius Severus from this mint are uncommon. V.2#366 sees only scattered specimens in major collections.