This coin was minted at Smyrna which used to be famous only for being the home of Homer (he wrote Iliad, Odyssey). In Revelation 2:8-11 its new Christians are being praised for being faithful even while in prison and while being killed for following Jesus. At a later date their bishop, Polycarp, was publicly killed at an old age after he refused to renounce Jesus. He knew that the first death (ordinary biological death) is of little importance when one can bypass the second death (hell) and live forever with Jesus.
[SG 4571V showing Apollo and Homer, from 200-100 B.C.]

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