Æ44 - Septimius Severus ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑ ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝΟϹ ΤΟΥ ϹΕΚΟΥΝΔΟΥ , ΜΥΤΙΛΗΝ

Mytilene, the dominant polis of Lesbos, retained unusual civic autonomy under Rome — the island had sided with Pompey, then cleverly repositioned itself after Pharsalus, and emperors from Caesar onward periodically confirmed its "free city" status. The magistrate named in the legend, Artemon son of Secundus, is attested only through coins of this type; his strategos title indicates a local administrative office that the city used to assert civic identity on its bronze coinage. At 53 grams and 44mm, this is among the largest provincial bronzes produced in the Pergamene conventus.