Smyrna (BC 75-50) Drachm

ca 75-50 BC. AR Drachm (3.89g, 12h). Homereia type. Megakles, magistrate. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / Homer seated left, holding scroll; scepter behind, MEΓAKΛ[HΣ] to left. VF, minor porosity, very light cleaning marks, small flan flaw on chin. Very rare denomination, unpublished with this magistrate.

The magistrate Megakles is only known for Milne’s period XVII coinage, and the obverse die link to the drachms of Apollonios of this period confirms this placement. While the tetradrachms of Smyrna used local reverse types not found on other denominations, the very rare drachms employ the famous ‘Homereia’ type found on the relatively common bronzes. Strabo specifically mentions this bronze coinage when, discussing the city, he says "there is also a library; and the 'Homereum', a quadrangular portico containing a shrine and wooden statue of Homer; for the Smyrnaeans also lay especial claim to the poet and indeed a bronze coin of theirs is called a Homereum" (Strabo, Geographica XIV, I.37, transl. by H.C. Jones, The Geography of Strabo, VI [Loeb, 1960], pp. 245-247).