SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Heliopolis. Gallienus, 253-268. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 27 mm, 11.25 g, 12 h). IMP CAES P LIC GALLIENIVS P F AVG (sic!) Laureate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right. Rev. COL IVL - F HEL AVG CER SAC / CAP OEC / ISE HEL Prize crown, containing two palm fronds. RPC X online ID 63805. Sawaya 704-5 (D106/R261). SNG München 1044. An unusually attractive example of this interesting agonistic issue. Repatinated, otherwise, good very fine.



The city of Heliopolis, or Baalbek, in eastern Lebanon, has a history of human habitation stretching back some 11,000 years. After Alexander the Great conquered the area in 334 BC, he renamed it Heliopolis in honor of the sun. Today the site is best known for the impressive ruins of its great temples of Bacchus and Jupiter, where festivals and games were once held in honor of the gods. The reverse of this attractive coin shows a prize crown or urn containing two victor’s palm branches - the award given to the winners of those ancient games.