PAMPHYLIA. Magydus. Geta, 209-211. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 24 mm, 11.49 g, 12 h), Year 25 of a civic festive era = circa 209-211. ΑV KAIC Π CЄΠT ΓЄTA Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΜΑΓΥΔЄⲰΝ / ΚЄ Demeter, veiled, seated left, holding grain ears in her right hand and long torch in her left. BMC -. Imhoof-Blumer -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG PFPS -. SNG Paris -. SNG von Aulock -. Ünal (2018) -. Apparently unpublished and of great historical interest. Very minor pitting, otherwise, good very fine.


Magydus struck an interesting civic coinage in Roman Imperial times, with surviving examples ranging from Tiberius to the sole reign of Gallienus. Characteristically, they all bear numbers on their reverses. Waddington (1853, p. 91) first suggested these numbers must refer to sacred games held at irregular but consecutive intervals. In a recent paper (2018), Erdal Ünal has listed all recorded examples known from museums, collections and auction catalogues. The date KΔ (24th cyclic date) is known in the name of Plautilla, and the 26th is attested for Macrinus and Diadumenian, but no coin with the 25th cyclic date was recorded. Our coin, in the name of Geta Augustus, now fills this gap, dating the 25th edition of the games to circa 209-211.