CARIA. Heraclaea Salbace. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 30 mm, 15.52 g, 7 h), time of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, 161-169. IEPA CYNΚΛHTOC Draped bust of the Roman Senate to left. Rev. ΗΡΑΚΛΕΩΤΩΝ Marcus Aurelius, togate on the left, and Lucius Verus, togate on the right, standing facing each other and clasping their right hands; in his left hand, Marcus Aurelius holds a scroll. Imhoof-Blumer, KM 9 (same dies). RPC IV online 902.2 (this coin). SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. Of the highest rarity, apparently the second and by far the best known example. A lovely issue of fine style with beautiful earten highlights. Good very fine.


This coin is a beautiful testimony to the reception of Imperial coinage in the Provinces: while the obverse celebrates the 'holy Senate', the reverse is a direct copy of the well-known imperial sestertii of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus celebrating the concordia avgvsti and is as such a public pledge of loyalty of the Heracleans to the emperors.