Watch List notes:

RÖMISCHE PROVINZIALPRÄGUNGEN
THRAKIEN

PHILIPPOPOLIS. Caracalla, 211 - 217 n.Chr. AE Großbronze (22,59g). Vs.: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡΗΛ − ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ, gepanzerte Büste mit Lorbeerkranz n. r. Rs.: ΚΕΝΔΡΕΙΣΕΙΑ ΠΥΘΙΑ ΕΝ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟ/ΠΟΛΙ ΝΕΩ/ΚΟΡΩ, Tempel des Apollon Kendrisos mit acht korinthischen Säulen an der Front in Vorderansicht. Varbanov, GIC III, ; SNG Cop. . Hellgrüne Patina, ss
Philippopolis' main divinity was the Thracian god Kendrisos. In the course of time he was merged with the Greek Apollon and venerated as Apollon Kendrisios. Every five years Kendrisian Pythian Games were held in his honour. During the time of the Emperor Elagabalus (218-223) the Apollon Kendrisios' sanctuary was raised to the title of 'Neokoros', i.e. a privileged place of cult. Taking much pride in this elevation by the emperor the city of Philippopolis minted a series of coins proclaiming that henceforth the Kendrisian Pythian Games were played in a Neokoros-city. The reverse shows a stylized picture of Apollon Kendrisios' temple situated on a hill above Philippopolis/Plovdiv.Varbanov III 1660. Cf. W. Leschhorn, Griechische Agone in Makedonien und Thrakien, in: U. Peter (Hrsg.), Stephanos nomismatikos: Edith Schönert- Geiss zum 65. Geburtstag, Berlin 1998, 399-415, bes. 412 f.; B. Burrell, Neokoroi. Greek Cities and Roman Emperors, Leiden/Boston 2004, 243 (mentioning two unpublished samples of this coin in Vienna and Berlin).