CILICIA, Corycus. Valerian I. AD 253-260. Æ Octassarion (30mm, 20.13 g, 5h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Agonistic crown, containing caduceus, palm frond, and apluster, inscribed ΘЄΜΙΑ and set upon table; to right, Dionysus standing left, holding cantharus and filleted thyrsus; between, panther standing left. SNG BN 1122 (same dies); SNG Levante 819 (same dies). Green patina with earthen deposits, struck on a typical small flan. VF.
The presiding deity of the Themian games was the goddess Themis (Θέμις), personification of Justice and Order, who had been the patron of the oracle of Delphi before Apollo. Thema (θέμα) also means a deposit, usually of money, and the Themian games were unusual in having cash prizes for the winners, unlike the more typical awards of wreaths, wine, oil, or celery.