PHRYGIA. Hierapolis. Germanicus, died 19. AE (Bronze, 14 mm, 2.29 g, 12 h), struck under Tiberius, 14-37. ΓΕPMANIKOC Laureate head of Germanicus to right. Rev. ΔPOYCPC IEPAΠΟΛΕITΩN Bare head of Drusus to right. RPC I 2968 (1 specimen). Extremely rare, a single specimen cited by RPC. Minor corrosion on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.
RPC notes that while the authenticity of the BM coin is not beyond question, it looks genuine and unaltered in hand. Our coin clearly shows that there is no reason to doubt the legitimacy of this issue. Both the unusual portrait (especially the laureate head) and the fact that it lacks the usual magistrate name are probably simply due to the small size of the dies.