PHRYGIA. Laodicea ad Lycum. Caracalla, 198-217. Medallion (Bronze, 43 mm, 44.17 g, 6 h), CY 88 = 214/5 (?). AYT K M AYP ANTΩNЄINOC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind.
Rev. ΦΡΥΓΙΑ TO ΠH KAPIA / ΛAΟΔIKЄΩN / NЄΩKΟPΩN Tyche seated left, holding small figure of Zeus Laodiceus in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left; to left, Phrygia standing right, holding grain-ears in her right hand; on the right, Caria standing left, holding branch in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. BMC 228. SNG von Aulock 3856. Very rare. Somewhat rough and with minor deposits
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
This impressive medallion is interesting in two ways: first, it is part of a series of coins struck under Caracalla citing the 'year 88' of an otherwise unknown local era, which Imhoof-Blumer dated to 210/11. The mature portrait and the fact that Caracalla was travelling through Asia Minor in 214/5, however, make it more plausible that these coins were struck in that or the following years, which sets the beginning of the era at 126/7-129 AD (it is notable that in 129/30, Hadrian was travelling through Asia Minor, where he was hailed by many cities as benefactor: this may well have prompted Laodicea to come up with a new local era too). Secondly, the very unusual reverse places the Tyche of Laodicea in between the named personifications of Phrygia and Caria, thus boasting the city's importance as a regional administrative and economical center.