PHRYGIA, Laodicea ad Lycum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion (43mm, 45.38 g, 6h). Lucius Aelius Pigres, Asiarch for the third time. Struck AD 214-217. Near VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 131. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHRYGIA, Laodicea ad Lycum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion (43mm, 45.38 g, 6h). Lucius Aelius Pigres, Asiarch for the third time. Struck AD 214-217. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Caracalla standing left in quadriga of elephants, holding patera and eagle-tipped scepter. von Aulock, Phrygiens –; RPC V.2 Online 543 = SNG von Aulock 3857 (this coin). Brown patina, porosity, minor flan flaws. Near VF. Extremely rare, one of two known.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Künker 280 (26 September 2016), lot 725; Leu 20 (25 April 1978), lot 348; Hans von Aulock Collection.

This medallion commemorates the renewal of the city’s neocorate, first instituted under Commodus between AD 185 and 189. The neocorate was a position bestowed by the Senate to certain worthy cities of Asia Minor to establish and maintain the imperial cult there. The honor and prestige of this distinction was of great benefit to the city involved and created a reciprocal association between Rome and important provincial urban centers. The medallions struck under the authority of Pigres are specific in their reverse designs, indicating Caracalla’s presence in the city at the time, when he visited the temple associated with the cult and participated in the dedication ceremonies. The funds raised from these medallions helped to finance Caracalla’s advance across Asia Minor towards the Parthians.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:43:20 ET.



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