★ Herodotus, the 'father of history' ★

CARIA. Halicarnassus. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Assarion (Bronze, 21 mm, 5.90 g, 7 h). ΑΥ ΤΙ ΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ Bare head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. [ΗΡΟΔΟΤΟϹ ΑΛΙΚΑΡΝΑCCΕΩΝ] Draped and bearded bust of the historian Herodotus to right. RPC IV.2 online 3148 ( same dies ). Of the highest rarity, apparently the third known example. Fine.

This issue honors the greatest citizen of Halicarnassus, the historian Herodotus (circa 490/80-430/20 BC), whom Cicero referred to as 'the father of history'. Herodotus is most famous for his description of the Greco-Persian Wars and his systematic investigation of his sources, which laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of history.