Phrygian Coin

‎This silver three-drachma coin’s Latin inscription says “Lentulus Imperator.” Lentulus became “Imperator” (“Commander”) in 57 B.C. when, with Julius Caesar’s backing, he was elected one of Rome’s two ruling proconsuls. As Roman Cilicia’s provincial governor, he issued this coin in about 55 B.C. in Apamea, near Laodicea. The local magistrate’s name, Kastoros, appears in Greek at the bottom. The Greeks called Apamea’s region Phrygia, as did Luke (Acts 2:10). With a first century A.D. population around 450,000, Apamea followed only Ephesus in economic importance among the cities in Roman Asia.

‎Acts 2:10, Acts 16:6, Acts 18:23