So I was poking around in Syria, looking for some specific issues of S. Severus, but I wandered considerably northward and stumbled across this little gem: a bronze of Nikopolis ad Istrum. The portrait drew me in, but when I saw the stunning rendition of Hermes holding a purse and caduceus on the reverse, I was sold on it. This engraver knew his art - it's the finest rendition of Hermes I've seen on this type, and well-struck, and well-preserved, and at a bargain price! There are a number of varieties, and I haven't researched them all, but I believe the obverse legend reads [AV KAI CEΠ] CEVHPOC and the reverse NIKOΠOΛI ΠΡOC [ICT]. I'm not sure what the symbol above Hermes' shoulder is, that looks like a T. Anyone have any ideas?
It does have that look, but it also exhibits what appear to be serifs, so perhaps it is a T after all. I have various references I can check later.
I see no reason not to call it a T since that is the next letter in NIKOPOLI T ON. This is a nice coin with a clear udder bag.
T it is then. It's a variant I haven't come across yet. All the other legends I've seen have NIKOΠOΛI.
Whoa => yah, I know Hermes fairly well, so I'm pretty sure that he'd appreciate us calling the ol' udder bag a "Murse" (a man-purse!!) I'm just sayin'
