Roman Empire, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus

Description

Many towns in the Greek eastern part of the Roman Empire produced coins for local use, and as in the west special pieces were also minted as gifts for special occasions. To judge from their size and weight these medallions were not used as currency. Their larger surface invited imagery with more detail. The medallion illustrated was made in Silandos in Asia Minor in the reign of the archon Attalianos in honour of Emperor Lucius Verus and his victory in Armenia in AD 163. As well as the names of the town and its highest official, the reverse bears an image of the Emperor riding down a barbarian in chains; he is marked as an eastern barbarian by his Phrygian cap. The medallion from Lydia is one of a small number of coins from remote parts of the Empire found in Augst.