Æ37 - Septimius Severus ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΝ ΙΩΝΙΑ

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.