Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 1 25 Jun 2017
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PHRYGIA. Cotiaeum. Philip I, 244-249. Tetrassarion (?) (Bronze, 25 mm, 6.95 g, 1 h), Aurelius Menander, archiereus and stephanophoros. M IOYΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠOC AYΓ Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to right. Rev. [ЄΠI] AYP MENANΔPOY ΔI[..] APX / K CTE/Φ / [K]OTIAE/[ΩN] Kybele, holding patera in right hand and leaving on drum with elft elbow, driving biga with two lions left; behind lions, flaming altar. BMC -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Leypold -. SNG Righetti -. SNG von Aulock -. Cf. BMC 79 (same magistrate, but without the Stephanophoros title and with a different reverse type). Apparently unpublished and unique. Minor cleaning scratches, otherwise, very fine.
The reverse legend of this coin is of special interest: it adds a new title to Aurelius Menander, who was previously only known to have been archiereus ('high priest', cf. BMC 79 and 86). The rare title stephanophoros ('wreath-bearer') appears in Kotiation for the first time on a coin of Maximinus Thrax (SNG München 328, for Aelius Hermaphilus, 'archiereus for the first and stephanophoros for the second time'). Our example, slightly later and for a different magistrate, appears to be the second such reference known.
The reverse legend of this coin is of special interest: it adds a new title to Aurelius Menander, who was previously only known to have been archiereus ('high priest', cf. BMC 79 and 86). The rare title stephanophoros ('wreath-bearer') appears in Kotiation for the first time on a coin of Maximinus Thrax (SNG München 328, for Aelius Hermaphilus, 'archiereus for the first and stephanophoros for the second time'). Our example, slightly later and for a different magistrate, appears to be the second such reference known.