IONIA, Metropolis. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ (36mm, 21.30 g, 12h). Aurelius Sextus II, strategos. Good Fine.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 99. Estimated: $ 300

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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IONIA, Metropolis. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ (36mm, 21.30 g, 12h). Aurelius Sextus II, strategos. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Military figure (Ares or the emperor?) standing facing, head left, holding spear and resting hand on grounded shield, within tetrastyle temple with arcuated lintel. RPC VI Online 4845.2 (this coin). Earthen green surfaces. Good Fine. Extremely rare, one of two known.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 326 (7 May 2014), lot 279.

The name Metropolis (meaning “mother city” in Greek) was adopted by many cities on the Greek mainland and Anatolia. Metropolis in Ionia, located about 40 km southeast of Izmir, was inhabited as early as Hittite times, when it was called Puranda. It came into prominence as one of the chief cities of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Pergamon between the fourth and third centuries BC. It was built up extensively during the Roman period and remained an important cultural center into Byzantine times. The cult of Ares, possibly depicted on the reverse of this medallion, was popular in the city and archeologists have uncovered the remains of a temple dedicated to the war god, one of only three identified in the Greek world.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:32:40 ET.



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