Triton XVIII, Lot: 873. Estimate $500. Sold for $350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Philippopolis. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (25mm, 8.67 g, 1h). AVT K M AVP ANTΩ(NE)INOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITON NEΩ/KOPΩN, two palm fronds in agonistic urn inscribed ΠVΘIA. Mouchmov, Philippopolis 513 var. (obv. legend); Varbanov 1798 var. (same); BMC –; Weber 2776 var. (same). Near EF, dark green patina.

From the Collection of the MoneyMuseum, Zurich. Ex Nomos 2 (17 May 2002), lot 203.

Although the main Pythian Games were held at Apollo’s sanctuary at Delphi, many other cities throughout the Roman Empire periodically held smaller versions of the tournaments. Like the Delphic original, these local events included a number of athletic contests, as well as music and poetry competitions.