RPC II, 1006

 

Image of specimen #1

 

Coin type
Volume II
Number 1006
Province Asia
Subprovince Conventus of Smyrna
Region Ionia
City Smyrna
Reign Vespasian
Person (obv.) Vespasian (Augustus)
Magistrate Agron Eusebes (strategos) ; Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Ιtalicus (proconsul) ; Iulia
Dating before AD 79
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒΑϹ ΟΥΕϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ
Edition Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Σεβασ(τὸς) Οὐεσπασιανός
Translation Emperor Caesar Augustus Vespasianus
Obverse design laureate head of Vespasian, left
Reverse inscription ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙ, [ ] ϹΤΡΑ ΑΓΡΩΝΟϹ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤ[ ], [Α]ΚΡΑ[ΙΟϹ]
Edition Ζμυρναί(ων) [---] στρα(τηγοῦ) Ἄγρωνος γραμματ[---] Ἀκραῖος
Translation of the Smyrnaeans [---], of the strategos Agron, grammateus [---], Acraean (Zeus)
Reverse design Zeus seated, left, holding Nike and sceptre
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 26 mm
Average weight 12.66 g
Axis 6
Reference Klose XXXV B
Specimens 2 (2 in the core collections)
Note The reading is not sure, though ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙ, [ ] ϹΤΡΑ ΑΓΡΩΝΟϹ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤ[ ] seems clear on BMC 296. ΑΚΡΑΙΟϹ is plausible enough, repeating the epithet of Zeus from 996 (BMC 294). The problem, however, is the word ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤ[ ], since there is no suggestion of a grammateus on any of the other coins of this issue. Flavian coins seem to mention only the stephanephoros and the strategos, and none of the other coins of Smyrna mentions a grammateus. Klose's view (p. 74) was that Agron was both strategos and grammateus. The authenticity of the L piece is not certain (although the arrangement of the rev. legend is different from that of Bolanus' coins with the similar rev. design, from which these rare pieces might otherwise have been altered).

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     ✸ L BMC 296
2 2     V see Klose