CARIA. Halicarnassus. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Assarion (Bronze, 21 mm, 5.90 g, 7 h). ΑΥ ΤΙ ΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ Bare head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. [ΗΡΟΔΟΤΟϹ ΑΛΙΚΑΡΝΑCCΕΩΝ] Draped and bearded bust of the historian Herodotus to right. RPC IV.2 online 3148 (same dies). Of the highest rarity, apparently the third known example. Fine.

This issue honors the greatest citizen of Halicarnassus, the historian Herodotus (circa 490/80-430/20 BC), whom Cicero referred to as 'the father of history'. Herodotus is most famous for his description of the Greco-Persian Wars and his systematic investigation of his sources, which laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of history