Unpublished Thyateira Medallion

Triton XVIII, Lot: 881. Estimate $20000. Sold for $18000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Thyateira. Pseudo-autonomous issue. temp. Elagabalus or Severus Alexander, AD 218-222 and 222-235, respectively. Æ Medallion (39mm, 10.72 g, 6h). Cl. Aurelius Dionysius, strategos and eques. IЄPA CVNKΛHTOC, draped bust of youthful Senate right / ЄΠI CTP KΛΩ AVP ΔIONVCIOV IΠΠIKOV/ ΘVATЄIPH/NΩN, the river-god Lykos, nude from the waist down, reclining left, placing right hand on amphora; to left, bull grazing right; tree in background. Unpublished in the standard references, but see SNG von Aulock 3210 for the same obverse die. Superb EF, green patina.

Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA IV (11 December 2006), lot 212 (hammer of 22,000 CHF).

Cl. Aurelius Dionysius is one of several strategoi of Thyateira to include his title ἱππικός, equivalent of the Latin eques (a member of the Equestrian order).