Help needed

Dear coin friends,

Here a new Type for Hadrian in Nicopolis ad Lycum.
what do you think is the "III" on the right from Nike?



PONTUS, Nicopolis ad Lycum Hadrian Ae 18 126-27 AD Nike

Reference.
RPC III, 2945A; new type

Issue Year 56 (NϚ)

Obv. AYT TPAI-AΔPIAN
Laureate head of Hadrian right

Rev. ΕΤΟΥC ΝϚ
Victory walking, right, holding wreath and palm 'uncertain object' to right

4.61 gr
18 mm

 

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Nike is often depicted in ancient statuary as standing on the prow of a ship. A ship's railing, perhaps???

 

I'm not sure it is a "III". Could it be the base of a tripod, and the top just didn't strike well? Or, maybe three small columns?

 

I vaguely can see COS above the III , nice coin Eric, congrats

 

The tripod idea is sound, but they don't really look like Oki's example, eh?



=> however, if it is a tripod, then Victory BBQ'ing is an amazing reverse!!

 

Is there more hidden under the dirt?

 

Maybe Andres is on to something?

 

Oh => and cool coin, Oki (I'm assuming that you already scored it?)

 

With a sword in the left hand, I'm thinking altar. I know that's not traditional behavior for Nike but it's what I see.

 

The "sword" is probably a palm frond. Nike is often depicted with a palm frond. Also, she is probably holding a wreath in her outstretched right hand.

 

Pontos? => yup, palm frond for sure (good call, TIF)

 

Perhaps as Pish says there's more hidden under the encrusted dirt? Could it be part of more legend? It seems strange that the city name is not present at all.

 

I think the city name is (mostly) on flan at the reverse left side (might not be the date, "...ΟΥC ΝϚ"; looks like ...OYCNE"). Could the right-field marks be the date, written in unusually large letters?

Oki, how sure are you of the city? For that matter, how sure are you that it's Hadrian and not Trajan (yeah, it does look more like Hadrian but...).

 

The Trajan issue from that city would look like this:
http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/2942/

I think the left side is the date... ΝϚ would give us year 56, which conforms with the city year dating on the Trajan in the link. But the city name that occupies the left side reverse legend on the Trajan is missing on the OP.

 

yes but not yet in hand

 

that could be, while its a small domination coin?

 

99% contacted BM and BnF, they gave it 2945A
only we do not know what the tripod is, its not III that's i put it "between"
looks like ancient BBQ set maybe there is more above the "bbq"

 

I think I see a fourth pillar on the flan to the right with a bottom higher than the other pillars.

 

welcome off_flan (awesome name)

 

Am I the only one who sees this as Nike standing on the prow of a ship and those are the rails???