Smyrna in Ionia, 161-169 AD., pseudo-autonomous issue, Æ 20, SNG von Aulock 2178.

Smyrna in Ionia, pseudo-autonomous issue, magistrate Klaudios Proklos, Strategos and Sophist, ca. 161-169 AD.,
Æ 20 (19-20 mm / 4,87 g), medal alignment ↑↑ (ca. 0°),
Obv.: CMYPNA - IWN , draped bust of Zeus Akraeos facing left.
Rev.: ЄΠI - [CTP KΛ ΠPOKΛ]OY COΦI , two Nemeseis standing facing each other, left holding bridle, right holding cubit-rule.
SNG von Aulock 2178 ; Klose Smyrna XIV 007 (9 pieces listed) ; Vienna coll. 17622 ; BM coll. 1975.4.11.185 .

Sophism was the revival of the use and value of higher education in the Roman Empire during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. This also included a renewed emphasis and importance of rhetoric and oratory. The practice and teachings were modeled after the Athenian vocabulary of 400 BC, as well as the Hellenic traditions of that time. The sophists were great lecturers and declaimers who esteemed to address various issues of political, economic and social importance. Thus, they served a vast array of positions from educational and social leaders, to ambassadors, Imperial Secretaries and high priests. In these orders, they won the favor of Emperors who would restore their eastern centers of intellect. Some like Lucian were steeply into Atticism (an artificial purest movement favoring archaic expressions). While others like Plutarch were obviously much more akin to the Greek of their day.
Smyrna was an important Greek city in the Empire at this age. Two noteworthy sophists were educated and taught in this center; attracting the respect of its citizens. They also invited the attention or patronage of Roman Emperors such as Trajan and Marcus Aurelius. Although neither of these men called the city their birthplace, both Polemo of Laodicea and Aelius Aristides spent much of their time here studying the rhetoric or advocating for its people. Another esteemed sophist in the 2nd century, Herodes Atticus, paved the way for succeeding sophists of Atticism in the great center of Athens. These three eminent connoisseurs of rhetoric were significant sophists of the 2nd century AD. Many succeeding them would strive to replicate and illustrate their immense knowledge of the Hellenic classics and eloquent skills in oratory. Out of all of the Second Sophistic orators, these men possessed significant esteem in the eyes of Emperors. They also provided their provincial regions as well as other areas of the Empire with an abundance of benefactions.