Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1151. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $225. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Tarsus. Caracalla. 198-217 AD. Æ 32mm (18.18 gm, 12h). Struck 215 AD. Mantled bust right, wearing demiourgic crown / Elephant standing left, bearing Ciliarch crown inscribed O MAK KI on its back; GB to left. SNG Levante Supp. 269 (this coin); SNG France 1541 var. (legend; same obv. die). Fine, olive patina with whitish-beige overtones. A unique variety of an extremely rare and desirable issue. ($200)

The acronym MAK stands for Prwth Megisth Kallisth (First, Greatest, Most Beautiful), epithets granted to the city upon Caracalla's arrival there in 215 AD; the addition of O(reoiV) KI(likwn) (for the hills of the Cilicias), here for the only time, was used to differentiate Tarsos from other cities in Asia Minor upon which Caracalla bestowed the same epithets during his progress east to battle the Parthians.