IONIA. Smyrna, 2nd-3rd centuries AD. Weight of 1 Litra (Lead, 119 mm, 330.88 g, 12 h), Marcus Aurelius Kladeros, agoranomos. ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΟ/Υ. Rev. Μ ΑΥ ΚΛΑΔΕΡΩ/TOC; below, square countermark: Μ ΑΥΡ Κ/ΛΑΔΕΡ/ΩϹ ΑΓΟP/ΑΝΟΜΟϹ. Pondera 14457 = P. Weiss: Eine Pelta, ein Hipparch und Smyrna, in: Epigraphica Anatolica 34 (2002), pp. 143 and 146, 1 (this weight). A very interesting piece. Slightly rough, otherwise, nearly very fine.


This weight's curious shape is meant to resemble a so-called pelta, a small shield formed like a crescent, which was traditionally associated with barbarian peoples, such as the Thracians or the Amazons. Most likely, this was meant to refer to the city's eponymous founder, the Amazon Smyrna.