Miletoupolis, Marc Aurel, bronze coin — Youthful Miletos standing on prow (CN type 17599)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 164–169
Issuing entity
MysiaCoin in bronze struck at Miletoupolis in Mysia under Marc Aurel, dated AD 164–169. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 17599 (issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝ. Reverse: youthful Miletos standing on prow, l., head, r., extending arm, holding spear and shield. Legend: ΜΕΙΛΗΤΟᛈ ΚΤΙᛈΤΗᛈ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 7.71 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 23.4–24 mm (from 3 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Heuchert, RPC IV: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. IV: From Antoninus Pius to Commodus (AD 138–192). online (temporary), http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/, nr. 606; Schwertheim et al., Die Inschriften von Kyzikos und Umgebung. 2: Miletupolis. Inschriften und Denkmäler, Bonn 1983, p. 82, nr. 34; Linked type corpus.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 4
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 3
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Marcus Aurelius reigned as Roman emperor from 161 to 180, initially ruling alongside his adoptive brother Lucius Verus. Sited in Mysia near the Simav River, the ancient town of Miletopolis, also recorded as Miletoupolis, operated as an urban mint within the empire. Between 164 and 169, the city issued civic bronze coinage acknowledging Marcus Aurelius alongside its traditional local founder figure.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 23.4–24 mm (from 3 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 7.71 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Miletoupolis
- Region
- Mysia
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Marc Aurel
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
- Reverse type
- youthful Miletos standing on prow, l., head, r., extending arm, holding spear and shield
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝ
- Reverse legend
- ΜΕΙΛΗΤΟᛈ ΚΤΙᛈΤΗᛈ
Identification
- How to identify
- Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/17599
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 17599
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 606
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 82, nr. 34
- external concordance
Varieties
Miletoupolis, Marc Aurel, bronze (CN type 17610)
Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution