★ A local hero spearing a boar ★

CARIA. Aphrodisias. Gallienus, 253-268. AE (Bronze, 24 mm, 7.36 g, 1 h). AΥ KAI ΠO Λ ΓAΛΛIHNOC Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to left, seen from behind. Rev. AΦPOΔЄICIE/ΩN Local hero standing right, nude except for a cloak waving behind, spearing boar standing to left before him with plant between. BMC p. 50, 144. MacDonald Type 228 (O263b/R544). Very rare. The reverse struck from the usual worn die, otherwise, very fine.

BMC and MacDonald identify the figure on the reverse of this issue as Adonis, but the scene is very similar to the boar hunt of Androklos, the founding hero of Ephesus, and it is therefore likely that the Aphrodisian coins also shows a local ktistes or hero.