★ The paraphylax Titus Flavius Andronikos from Kolophon ★

IONIA. Kolophon. Late 1st-2nd centuries. Weight of 1 Litra (Lead, 89 mm, 319.15 g, 6 h). ΛEITPA around wreath. Rev. TITON ΦΛ / ANΔPONЄ/IKON ΦΙΛO/CЄBACTOI / ΠAPAΦY/ΛAKЄC in six lines; to left, Ο IHЄPI (?). Cf. Pondera 11514 (for a similar weight from Kolophon). Unique and of great historical interest. Edge fault, otherwise, very fine.

The attribution of this fascinating weight of the paraphylax Titus Flavius Andronikos to Kolophon is based upon the close similarities in style and fabric to Pondera 11514, a weight of the eirenarchai Aurelius Tryphon and Quintus Lollius Epaphroditos. Both eirenarchai ('peace keepers') and paraphylakes ('chief guardians') were officials involved in policing communities and prosecuting crimes. The offices first appear in the late 1st century AD, a date which coincides well with Andronikos' Flavian name. In this regard, it is worth noting that another weight of 1 litra from Kolophon, Pondera 11471, provides the name of an eirenarchos Titus Flavius Euphonis, who might very well have been a relative of our Andronikos.