Obolos 19

IONIA. Ephesus. Salonina, Augusta, 254-268. (Bronze, 27 mm, 8.14 g, 6 h). CAΛΩN XPYCOΓONH CEBA Diademed and draped bust of Salonina to right, set on a crescent. Rev. TO AΓAΘON EΦECIΩN Male figure, perhaps an althete, standing right, fists clenched at his sides. BMC 399. Lindgren III 366. Sandy green and reddish-brown patina. Very fine.

From the W. F. Stoecklin Collection, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired from Münzen & Medaillen, Basel, prior to 1975.

Additionally to her usual name, this coin gives the empress the very interesting Greek title "Χρυσόγονη", which means "Golden-born". This has no parallel among the latin titles of Salonina, and has led to the assumption that she was actually of Greek origin. If so, numismatic evidence might suggest that she was from western or northwestern Asia Minor.

The name Χρυσόγονος - Chrysogonos = Golden-born/Born in gold - is reminiscent of the Byzantine epithet Πορφυρογέννητος - Porphyrogennetos = Born in the Purple, which was given to those emperors who were born when their fathers were emperors themselves (i.e., not if they were born prior to their fathers' ascension to the throne). Another 'golden' name is Χρυσόστομος - Chrysostomos = Golden-mouthed; among others this name was borne by the ancient orator Dio Chrysostomos (c. 40-120), St. John Chrysostomos (347-407) and Chrysostomos Kalafatis (1867-1922), the Orthodox bishop of Smyrna whose inflammatory views led him to be lynched after the Turks recaptured Smyrna and to becoming a Saint in 1992.