Æ43 - Severus Alexander ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑ ΑΥΡ ΑΡΙϹΤΕΙΔΟΥ ΚΥΖΙΚΗ ΝΕΟΚΟΡ

Cyzicus held the rare distinction of triple neokorate status by the Severan period — meaning the city had been granted the right to maintain an imperial cult temple three times over, a privilege conferring enormous prestige and real administrative leverage within the conventus. The strategos Aurelius Aristeides named in the obverse legend was a local magistrate whose term of office provides one of the few fixed points for dating the civic bronze issues of this mint within the thirteen-year reign.

At 43mm, these large civic bronzes from Cyzicus required substantial die preparation and were likely reserved for ceremonial or inter-city exchange rather than daily market use.