Featured The NICOMEDIA mint Challenge

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. JulesUK

    JulesUK Well-Known Member

    Great write up.
    Here is my offering, one of my favourite coins as there is so much detail in the reverse:-
    LICINIUS AE Follis (Rare), Nicomedia mint.
    Obv: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIUS P F AVG, Head of Licinius radiate, draped and cuir rt
    Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre. X over IIr to rt, Over captive. SMNA in ex. RIC VII Nicomedia 44

    5. Licinius Jupiter combo.jpg
     
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  3. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    BITHYNIA. Nicomedia. Severus Alexander (222-235). Ae.
    Obv: M AVP CЄV AΛЄΞANΔPOC AV.
    Laureate head right.
    Rev: NIKOMHΔЄΩN ΔIC NЄΩKO.
    Octastyle temple, with pellet in pediment.
    Bithynia, Nicomedia, Alexander.jpg
     
  4. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Jules, That's a great composition on the reverse for such a small coin (20 mm ?). Do you know the significance of the X over IIr ?
     
  5. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    "X IIΓ dans le champ (=12,5 deniers)" is the only explanation I found on nummus-bible-database.com. The translation is "X IIΓ in field (=12,5 denarius). The book " La monnaie antique" says:
    "Licinius introduced two new types of money in the Orient in 321, one in silvered bronze, the other almost devoid of silver and worth 12.5 denarii, as evidenced by the mark on the reverse X IIΓ".
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
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  6. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the answer & research ;).
     
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  7. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    The Nicomedia mint was operating with only one officinae during the early byzantine period. It finally closed in 627 AD.

    You're absolutely right. I stopped my list at the end of the 4th century, just before the Byzantine time.

    About your coin (I've noticed that @Bing and @dougsmit posted the same one), at the exact moment I saw it in your post, I was cleaning a similar specimen from a big lot bought a few weeks ago! I thought I was hallucinating...
    FA443928-95BB-4F7B-9CE9-A256A6FBCCC3.jpeg

    The famous "ligature" CMH ( I believe we could call it a monogram) picked my curiosity.
    1153D685-9523-4BAC-8D07-D9ED54A6DF1C.jpeg
    I found this possible explanation : The CMH ligature might be a mark of value -- 100 (sestertii) at 48 to the pound. C is the Latin number for 100 and MH is Greek for 48. This is why I love ancient numismatic; always something new to learn and I'll never "know it all".
     
  8. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    It's a mint I like very much for I have some coins out of the mainstream that were minted there

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian, Argenteus - Nicomedia mint, 3rd officina, AD 295-296
    DIOCLETI ANVS AVG, Laureate head of Diocletian right
    VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, The tetrarchs sacrifying before a campgate. SMNΓat exergue
    3.3 gr
    Ref : RCV # 12615 (1000), Cohen #491 var,


    [​IMG]
    Licinius II, AE3 - Nicomedia mint, 4th officina, AD 317-318
    D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, draped and diademed bust right
    PROVIDENTIA CAESS, Jupiter standing left, holding victory and sceptre, palm at his feet, dot and Δ in right field. SMN at exergue
    3.19 gr
    Ref : RCV # 115419 (75) Cohen # 39, RIC VII # 33-34


    [​IMG]
    Constantine the Great, Follis, not in RIC - Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 311
    IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right
    VIRTVTIE-XERCITVS Mars/Virtus advancing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and shield ; trophy over shoulder. B in right field. SMN in exergue.
    4.8 gr, 22 mm
    RIC-, C-, Roman coins -
    RIC lists this type only for Licinius and Maximinus . "Iovi Conservatori and Virtuti Exercitus both appear for Licinius and Maximinus, emissions for the former being the more scarce: coinage for Constantine is extremely rare. Date, c. 311". Coin should be listed after NICOMEDIA 70c.
    Please see Victor Clarks website for further information at : http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/unlisted/


    [​IMG]
    Constantine the Great, Posthumous AE3 - Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina
    D V CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG, veiled bust right
    Anepigraph, Constantine the great in a Quadriga right, SMNS at exergue
    2.19 gr
    Ref : Cohen # 760, LRBC # 1132


    [​IMG]
    Valentinian I, AE1 - Nicomedia mint, 1st officina
    D N VALENTINI ANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
    RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valentinian standing left, head right, holding standard and vicotry on globe. SMKA at exergue
    9.66 gr
    Ref : Cohen # 30, RIC #7a (R2), LRBC #2321

    Q
     
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  9. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    I just finished a very interesting paper about the second relief shown in the OP. The 2 characters embracing each other have been identified lately. The taller man on the left is probably the emperor Diocletian and his antagonist, Maximian, based on physiognomic distinctions. Even the
    "retroussé nose" of the right emperor was considered as a clue for the identification of Maximian!( I didn't remember that he was only 5-8 years old younger than Diocletian). This conclusion is based on analyses of tetrarchic portraiture on coinage and also on other monuments.
    Here is the link of the research :
    https://www.academia.edu/37124380/A_New_Tetrarchic_Relief_from_Nicomedia_Embracing_Emperors
     
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  10. Ricardo123

    Ricardo123 Well-Known Member

    I do mot recall to see a Valens yet. This is mine. The mintmark is smn but hard to see in picture.
    DF521854-FFE4-44CF-AB2D-05BF88C06A19.jpeg
     
  11. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I don't think I noticed these anywhere up there...

    Fausta:
    Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 10.27.31 PM.jpg

    Arcadius (AE 2/double centenionalis):
    Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 10.27.45 PM.jpg

    Maurice Tiberius (definitely some deterioration in quality of the mint output here... :woot:)
    Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 10.28.13 PM.jpg

    Phocas:
    Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 10.28.28 PM.jpg

    And a rare one, though only a "Nicomedia" in scare quotes, as it's an Arab-Byzantine imitation from c. 640, after the mint was actually closed:
    Screen Shot 2020-02-09 at 10.35.25 PM.jpg
     
  12. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    This has been a great thread with many coins that fit the topic. I know folks here are too polite openly to point out errors when made by one of our number. Did any of you notice a few coins that were not from Nikomedia? I'm not talking about coins made so hard to read that the mintmark is questionable but a coin certainly not from this city. You do not have to post it openly but I hope someone will have seen it and told the owner privately.
     
  13. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I remember seeing a Rome mint up there somewhere. :D But I did not do my duty and send a helpful pm. :bag:
     
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  14. Jochen1

    Jochen1 Well-Known Member

    Bithynia, Nikomedeia, Severus Alexander, Rec. Gen. 316
    Severus Alexander AD 222-235
    AE 20, 4.98g, 19.97mm, 45°
    Obv.: M AVP CEV AΛEZANΔPOC AVΓ
    Bust, draped, radiate, r.
    Rev.: NIKOMHΔ - EΩN ΔIC NEO / KOPΩN (MH and both ΩN ligate)
    Leda, with wreath, half dressed, with raised r. hand, stg. frontal, head turned
    r. to a swan, standing with opened wings l., and pulling with beak her
    garment, which she holds tight.
    Ref.: Rec. Gen. I/3, 557, 316, pl. 96, 22
    very rare (3 ex. known), EF, nice deep-green patina (the most beautiful spec.!)
    nikomedeia_sev_alex_RecGen316.jpg

    ex. coll. Pete Burbules 2006

    Best regards
    Jochen
     
  15. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    Maximinus II Daia - Follis - RIC VI Nicomedia 71b

    [​IMG]

    Constantius II - AE2 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 063

    [​IMG]

    Constantius II - AE2 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 067

    [​IMG]

    Constans - AE2 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 70


    [​IMG]

    Constantius II - AE2 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 071

    [​IMG]

    Constantius II - AE2 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 084

    [​IMG]

    Constantius Gallus - AE3/4 - RIC VIII Nicomedia 97

    [​IMG]



     
  16. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    And here's a witness for the creativity of Nicomedia minters:

    2772 Nicomedia misslag ct.jpg

    (Must be the twentieth time this coin is shown on CoinTalk)

    And a little penta of Mauricius Tiberius:

    3505 Mauricius penta.jpg

    Byzantium, Mauricius Tiberius (582-602). Pentanummium Nicomedia. Obv. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Large Є; N to right. 13.5 mm, 1.67 gr.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2020
  17. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    And here is Delmatius Caesar:

    2726 Delmatius SMN.jpg

    Delmatius (or Dalmatius) caesar. AE centenionalis Nicomedia, 336-337. Obv. Draped and laureated bust r. Rev. Two soldiers, one standard. SMNE in exergue. 15.5 mm, 2.19 gr. S. 16899.
     
  18. seth77

    seth77 Well-Known Member

    There is a good style at Nicomedia, obvious even if the metal is pitted:

    1257540_1593591169.jpg
     
  19. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    Not LRB, but Nikomedia:
    NikomedesIIBMCBithynia4Var.jpg
    KINGS of BITHYNIA. Nikomedes II Epiphanes. 149-127 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.90 gm, 11h, 37mm). Dated 159 BE (140/39 BC). Nikomedia. Obv: Diademed head right. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus Stephanophoros standing left; to inner left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt above monogram and ΘNP monogram (date). RG 40; HGC 7, 642; DCA 443; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC –; de Luynes 2427 var. (date).
     
  20. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    I've got two nice coins from Roman Nikomedeia, almost 300 years apart.

    Maximinus II Daia
    AE Follis
    [​IMG]
    312 A.D., Nicomedia Mint, 3rd Officina
    4.73g, 23.1mm, 6H

    Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG,
    Head of Maximinus Daia, laureate, right

    Reverse: GENIO A-VGVSTI,
    Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand; to left, altar

    Exergue: -/Γ//SMN

    Provenance: Ex. Busso Nachf Store 2018

    Reference: RIC VI Nicomedia 71a


    Justinian the Great
    AE Follis
    [​IMG]
    540 - 541 A.D., Nicomedia Mint, 1st Officina
    23.31g, 39.0mm, 6H

    Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG,
    Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing, holding globus cruciger and shield decorated with horseman motif; cross to right

    Reverse: -,
    Large M; A/N/N/O - X/II/II (R.Y. 14) across field, cross above, A below

    Exergue: NIKO

    Provenance: Ex. Numismatik Naumann Auction 60 Lot 593

    Reference: SBCV 201
     
  21. OutsiderSubtype

    OutsiderSubtype Well-Known Member

    Here is another GENIO AVGVSTI of Maximinus II. It is nowhere near as nice as the one @Caesar_Augustus has but it has the CMH ligature and apparently a somewhat scarce officina.

    coin-outsider-collection-zYCA8p-stitched-basic-medium.jpg

    Maximinus II Daia. 310-311. Nicomedia mint, sixth officina. Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right. Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI CMH. Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia. SMNS in exergue. RIV VI Nicomedia 66c.

    Is it just me or does it seem like the tie on his laurel wreath is extremely long on this one?
     
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