Lesbos, Mytilene Octavian, 32 – 27 BC Bronze 27 BC- 14 AD, Æ 20mm., 5.10g. Bare head of Divus Theophanes r. Rev. Draped and veiled bust of Diva Archedamis r. RPC 2342.

Rare. Brown tone. Good Fine.

Theophanes was a friend of Pompey the Great, and it was his influence that won the city its freedom from Pompey in 62 BC (Plutarch, Pompey 42). Theophanes died in 44 BC, but his memory was perpetuated by a local cult that flourished until about AD 33, when the descendents of Theophanes, still influential on the island, came to the attention of the typically suspicious Tiberius and were put to death. In addition, winning bids of EEC clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.