Mytilene (AD 138-192) AE 27 - Lesbonax

Lesbonax, period of the Antonines, 138-192 AD. AE27 (7.72g). ΛЄCBΩNAΞ HPOC NЄΩC, male bust right, beardless, wearing wreath of ivy-leaves and berries (Lesbonax in the character of Dionysos) / MVTIΛH NAIΩN, Lesbonax standing right wearing tainia, holding long staff and simpulum (?). Otherwise apparently unpublished and unique. Minor adjustment marks, good very fine.

This coin depicting Lesbonax is one of a series honoring noteworthy citizens. Lesbonax known from only a few preserved rhetorical and philosophical works was also depicted with beard thus as a proper philosopher (SNG von Aulock 1751). Deified as “the New Hero” Lesbonax obviously had to be equaled to the gods by depicting him as Dionysos. “Der kleine Pauly” lists three separate people who were called Lesbonax while others rather keep it by one or two. Other portraits honoring distinguished local citizens are known of Julia Procula, Flavia Nicomachis, Sextus Nicomachus, Theophanes, Archedamis, Nausikaa and Sappho. Except Sappho most of these citizens are more or less obscure historical figures.