PHRYGIA. Laodicea ad Lycum. Elagabalus, 218-222. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 32 mm, 15.45 g, 12 h). AYT K M AY ANTΩNЄINOC CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus to right, seen from behind; in field to right, countermark: male head to right. Rev. ΔOΓMATI CYNKΛHTOY - ΛAOΔIKЄΩN / NЄΩKOPΩ/N Two distyle temples, set on high podiums and seen in perspective, vis-à-vis; within them, two statues. BMC -, cf. 242 =. Burrell coin type 12a (differing legend arrangment). SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Leypold -. SNG München -. SNG von Aulock -. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Good fine.
This is a most interesting issue, as the reverse calls Laodicea 'neokoros by decree of the Senate' (ΔOΓMATI CYNKΛHTOY is the Greek equivalent of the Latin 'senatus consulto'). The coin thus provides evidence for the vital role the Roman Senate still played in the granting of neokorai to Greek cities even as late as the time of Elagabalus