Magnesia (AD 139-161) AE 29 - Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, 139-161 AD. AE29 (16.49g, 6h). Diophantus, magistrate. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Facing cult statue of Artemis Leukophryene. Good VF, green patina. Fine style. Very rare. Group CEM.

“The first city one comes to after Ephesos is Magnesia, which is an Aiolian city . . . In the present city is the temple of Artemis Leukophryene, which in the size of its shrine and in the number of its votive offerings is inferior to the temple at Ephesos, but in the harmony and skill shown in the structure of the sacred enclosure is far superior to it. And in size it surpasses all the sacred enclosures in Asia except two, that at Ephesos (to Artemis) and that at Didymoi (to Apollo)” (Strabo, Geography 14. 1. 40).