Vedius Pollo, Confidant of Augustus

350, Lot: 355. Estimate $100. Sold for $180. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Tralles. Vedius Pollio. Legate of Asia, circa 29/8-27 BC. Æ (19mm, 4.70 g, 12h). Menandros, son of Parrhasios, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Mercury standing left, holding purse and caduceus. RPC I 2636; BMC 79-80. Fine, dusty 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 with whom he was displeased.