Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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LYDIA, Tralles. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ (20mm, 5.86 g, 12h). Menandros, son of Parrhasios, magistrate. Bare head of Vedius Pollio right; uncertain object behind / Laureate head of Zeus right. Kurth 136; RPC I 2635; SNG Copenhagen 688; BMC 76-8. Earthen brown patina, off center obverse. VF.
Ex Savoca Online Auction 29 (30 December 2018), lot 2018.
An equestrian and confidant of Augustus, Vedius Pollio seems to have had an important administrative career, serving in the restoration of a proconsular government in Asia and possibly even in the refoundation of Tralles as Caesarea. His portrait appears on bronze coins of Tralles, highly unusual for anyone other than the emperor or members of his family, and indicates he served as the equivalent of a proconsul, possibly circa 31-30 BC. But his personal cruelty, especially toward slaves, undid his friendship with Augustus and made him infamous to later generations. Pollio is said to have kept a pool of lampreys explicitly for the purpose of executing slaves who displeased him. During a banquet honoring Augustus, a cup-bearer broke a goblet and Pollio ordered him thrown to the lampreys. Augustus was so appalled, he pardoned the slave and ordered all of Pollio's glassware smashed.
Ex Savoca Online Auction 29 (30 December 2018), lot 2018.
An equestrian and confidant of Augustus, Vedius Pollio seems to have had an important administrative career, serving in the restoration of a proconsular government in Asia and possibly even in the refoundation of Tralles as Caesarea. His portrait appears on bronze coins of Tralles, highly unusual for anyone other than the emperor or members of his family, and indicates he served as the equivalent of a proconsul, possibly circa 31-30 BC. But his personal cruelty, especially toward slaves, undid his friendship with Augustus and made him infamous to later generations. Pollio is said to have kept a pool of lampreys explicitly for the purpose of executing slaves who displeased him. During a banquet honoring Augustus, a cup-bearer broke a goblet and Pollio ordered him thrown to the lampreys. Augustus was so appalled, he pardoned the slave and ordered all of Pollio's glassware smashed.