Do you have any such coins? What is the Neocorate? From Wayne Sayles, Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Neocorus (νεωκόρος) was a Greek title which designated the individual who had charge of the interior of a temple and looked out for the temple's needs. In Roman times, provincial Greek cities often styled themselves as the neocori (νεωκόροι) of the imperial cult. This was an obvious form of flattery, whch insinuated the godliness of the emperor and indicated the city's devotion and loyalty. The neocorate of a city was a great and coveted honor, and not one which was presumed arbitrarily. The emperor allowed the bestowing of this right only to cities which had earned the status. Consequently, cities were eager to announce this consideration and usually did so on their coinage. The proclamation of a neocorate on coins was often accompanied by a depiction of the temple. Originally, it was imperial policy that only one neocorate would be allowed in a city. This rule was later relaxed, and several cities were allowed two or more neocorates. The subsequent awards were depicted on coins by showing two or three temples along with an appropriate inscription. The first neocorate of a city was usually mentioned in the inscription simply as ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ. The second appeared as B ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, the third as Γ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ (e.g. Pergamum). I have one such coin, a decassarion from Side in Pamphylia: Cornelia Salonina, wife of Gallienus, AD 253-268 Roman provincial Æ decassarion; 18.56 g, 28.8 mm Pamphylia, Side AD 253-268 Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ CΕΒΑ, diademed and draped bust, r., I (=10) before. Rev: CΙΔΗΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, Apollo standing, facing, head l., holding patera and resting on scepter surmounted by flower(?). Refs: BMC 163, 123 var.; SGI 4647 var.; SNG von Aulock 4861. Notes: Die match to lot #80, CNG electronic auction 137, 12/04/2006.
Interesting. Nope, nada, have no ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ. No familiar with this person. Cool that you have Decassarion with this! Congrats.
I have a Gallienus decassarion from the same city, but alas, no pictures! I've posted this one a few times lately, but a ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ example was called for. Here the ΝΕΩΚΟ- goes clockwise and follows behind the city name, with the -ΡΩΝ being completed anti-clockwise below. Have always wondered why they did that (and commonly so on provincial coins of this region). ELAGABALUS AE19. 3.55g, 18.7mm. THRACE, Philippopolis, circa AD 218-222. Varbanov 1795 var. (obv. legend). O: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate head right. R: ΦΙΛΙΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN NEΩKO-PΩN, Telesphoros standing facing, wearing cucullus.
That is a very neat coin. The Telesphoros on the reverse looks a bit kreepy. (That K was intentional )
Some spelled out the count. Here is a Macrinus AE30of Nicomedia with DIC (twice) rather than the numeral B=2. Here lately I have seen quite a few (hoard?) Gordian III Mt. Argaeus drachms of Caesarea with either B NE or just BN on the reverse which is probably not understood by many buyers. I do not have one but someone here does.
