Caracalla augustus, 198 – 217. Medallion, Laodicea ad Lycum 214-217, Æ 48.92 g. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Λ AIΛ ΠIΓPHC ACIAPX Γ ANEΘHKEN • ΛAOΔIKЄΩN/NЄΩKOPΩN Emperor standing r. on steps of distyle temple, holding wreath in r. hand; on either side, pair of togate figures raising hand in acclamation; behind, troops standing, holding shields and spears. All within precinct enclosure, seen from aerial perspective; enclosure entrance composed of six columns; figure of Hygieia, holding serpent, standing in outer intercolumnations; uncertain figures (Pigres and spouse?) standing facing in central intercolumnation. SNG von Aulock –. BMC 227. Seaby 2592.
Extremely rare. Brown tone and good very fine

Ex Hirsch 21, 1908, Weber, 3572 and Ars Classica X, 1925, 723 sales.

While this extremely rare medallion depicts the portrait of Caracalla on the obverse and features him in the temple scene on the reverse its real purpose is to advertise the status of Laodicea on the Lycus and promote the Asiarch L. Aelius Pigres. The type and legend refer to the renewal of Laodicea’s status as neokoros (”temple warden”)—an honorific title granted by the emperor and Senate to worthy Greek cities that perpetuated the imperial cult through temples dedicated to the emperors. Laodicea was granted its first neokorate when Hadrian visited the city in the period AD 125-129. This medallion celebrates the city’s second neokorate, which appears to have been bestowed by Caracalla when he passed through the city on his way to begin his war against the Parthians. Caracalla is prominent on the reverse, wreath in hand to honour the city with its new elevated status within the temple dedicated to the imperial cult, making it clear that the emperor was actually on hand in the city when the second neokorate was granted. The medallion has been dated AD 215-216 based on coins with related types dated to year 88 of a local era thought to count from Hadrian’s visit. The treatment of the temple scene on this piece is remarkable. Whereas such scenes would normally depict the emperor and his attendants in the foreground with the temple building rising in the background (as on Burrell 8, for example), here they are depicted before the temple at the far end of the temple precinct shown from an aerial perspective. This depiction takes the emphasis off the imperial visit itself, which was a normal cause for celebration in the Roman world, and focuses attention on the temple and Laodicea’s second neokorate. This medallion is also notable for the surrounding legend, which indicates that it was produced as a dedication (ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ) by L. Aelius Pigres in his role as Asiarch for the third time. The Asiarch was the high priest of the imperial cult in the Roman province of Asia and therefore his involvement in the bestowal of new neokorates is to be expected. Since the legend describes the medallion as a dedication, presumably it was Pigres who underwrote its production by providing the metal and obtaining the dies. The dedicatory aspect of this issue is especially interesting because another medallion type (Burrell 8a), produced for Laodicea in the same context, merely uses the preposition EΠI to indicate that it was produced ”under L. Aelius Pigres.” The reason for this distinction is unclear.