SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Laodicea ad Mare. Philip II, 247-249. Diassarion (Bronze, 22 mm, 9.44 g, 1 h). AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦΙΛΙΠΠOC CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II to right, seen from behind. Rev. COL LAOD METROPOLEOS / Є - Δ Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory in her right hand and scepter in her left. BMC -. Roma E-Auction 7 (2014), 1032. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Righetti -. Very rare. Light scratches on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.


The coins of Laodicea ad Mare struck under Philip I and II were most likely minted at Antiochia and are especially interesting as they are bilingual, combining a Greek obverse legend with the Latin ethnic on the reverse appropriate for a Roman Colonia. That the die cutter must have been a Greek, however, becomes clear from the title 'Metropolis', which is given in Latin letters but in the Greek form METROPOLEOS in error.