IONIA, Ephesus. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (21mm, 4.88 g, 6h). VF.

Electronic Auction 613
Lot: 551. Estimated: $ 200

Roman Provincial, Bronze

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

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IONIA, Ephesus. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (21mm, 4.88 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / The philosopher Heraclitus standing left, raising hand and holding club. Karwiese, MvE 5 943 (V2/R5); RPC VIII Online 20468; BMC 340-1. Green patina with earthen highlights, slight roughness. VF. Rare.

Heraclitus “the Obscure” is one of the earliest Greek philosophers whose writings have come down to us reasonably complete. Born in Ephesus in the 6th century BC, he retired to the countryside after the aristocratic party he supported was ejected from power, but nonetheless became a revered figure in the city’s history. Heraclitus held that fire was the basic building block of existence, hence he is depicted holding a torch.

”This world-order, the same of all, no god nor man did create, but it ever was and is and will be: everliving fire, kindling in measures and being quenched in measures.”

Closing Date and Time: 15 July 2026 at 13:03:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.