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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

Vedius Pollo, Confidant of Augustus

332, Lot: 196. Estimate $100.
Sold for $281. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Tralles. Vedius Pollio. Legate of Asia, circa 29/8-27 BC. Æ (20mm, 5.34 g, 12h). Menandros, son of Parrhasios, magistrate. Bare head of Vedius Pollio right; uncertain object behind / Laureate head of Zeus right. RPC I 2635; SNG München 718; SNG Copenhagen 688; BMC 76-8. Fine, dark grayish-green patina.


An equestrian and confidant of Augustus, Vedius Pollio appears to have had an important administrative career, serving in the restoration of a proconsular government in Asia and possibly even in the refoundation of Tralles as Caesarea. However, his personal cruelty, especially toward slaves, more than matched his public deeds, as he is said to have kept a pool of lampreys for the sole purpose of executing servants he was displeased with.