TYPE Greek Imperial, Trajan Decius (249-251 AD), provincial bronze AE34 of Tarsos (Cilicia), 26.54g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Laureate bust of Trajan Decius as viewed from behind to right, Greek legend: AV KE G MES KOU DEKIOS TRAIANOS, greek "pi" in each field Rev: Hermes (on right), in winged shoes holding caduceus, shaking hands (or exchanging uncertain object, all over other unc. elongated object) with figure that holds hoe over shoulder, Greek legend: TARSOU MITROPOLEOS around, AM between them, possibly small animal below REFERENCE: cf. LK 1647 GRADING: F, light brown patina, some pitting, rare ORDER INFO: G1446, $185 A massive, rare and interesting type. The identity of the figure on the left remains unclear; it could be a "colonist", and if there is indeed a small animal at his feet, some conjecture if to be the local deity Sandan (though rather unlikely, given his usual iconography is different). Analogous types with similar obverses (but for the legend) and somewhat related reverses may have persisted at Tarsos under Trebonianus Gallus, though the effigy was essentially that of Decius.