Featured The NICOMEDIA mint Challenge

The city
Nicomedia was founded in 284 BC as the capital of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Bithynia; the King Nicomedes I gave his name to the place. Its strategic location made the city a significant trading, military and artistic centre throughout the ages and it was once one of the four largest cities of the Roman world. It is now in Turkey and is called Izmit.


The city is destroyed, in 111 AD by a big fire, which made many victims, because of the absence of firemen. Nicomedia reached its peak in late Antiquity, as the imperial capital of Diocletian and frequent residence of Constantine the great who was baptized there on his deathbed. The emperor Diocletian made it the eastern capital city of the Roman Empire in 286 AD when he introduced the Tetrarchy system. Galerius Maximian and Licinius also chose it as the capital of the eastern half of the Empire. Constantine I stayed in the imperial palace of Nicomedia during the years when the great Constantinople was built. In 303 AD, Diocletian ordered that the newly-built church at Nicomedia be destroyed, its scriptures burnt, and its precious stones seized. The next day, February 24th, he issued his "First Edict Against the Christians," which ordered similar measures to be taken at churches across the Empire. This was the beginning of a period called " The 20,000 martyrs of Nicomedia". Many of them were killed en masse, when they were ordered, during Christmas mass, to sacrifice to idols; when they refused, they were locked in the churches and the buildings burned around them.



Some believe that the number of 20,000 is exaggerated. However, the martyrs of Nicomedia continue to be remembered with feast days: they are commemorated on 28 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and by the Byzantine Catholic and Latin rite Catholic Churches. In 358 AD, Nicomedia was wrecked by a powerful earthquake followed by a fire of great magnitude that destroyed what was left standing after the earthquake. The city was rebuilt but without the splendour of the old days. The magnificent Constantinople was destined to be the uncontested capital of the region, which is why it did not seem necessary to invest considerable resources in rebuilding the city.
Sadly, archeologists were never really welcomed in the modern city. There has been no systematic excavation of ancient Nicomedia. In 1999, another big earthquake, which badly damaged most of the city, also led to important discoveries of ancient Nicomedia during the subsequent debris clearing. A wealth of ancient statuary was uncovered, including statues of Hercules, Athena, Diocletian and Constantine. Later, the site where Diocletian built his palace was found, and also an ancient Roman theatre.

One of the painted reliefs found in 2001: goddess Roma, Nike and Roman officials in a processional scene.


Another relief discovered in 2009: the meeting of two Roman generals (brothers or emperors?).
The mint
Nicomedia had minted coins from the old times of the Kingdom of Bithynia. The official mint at Nicomedia was opened in about 302 AD by Diocletian and continued to strike coins throughout the 4th century AD. The monetary workshop strucked gold, silver and bronze coins. In the beginning, there were only 2 officinae in operation, which could explain why Nicomedia's folles are rarer than those of the others Roman mints. Later, during the time of the second Tetrarchy, the mint was working with 4 officinae and the production still increase during the reign of Licinius I with the opening of 3 more workshops. After Constantine won the war against Licinius in 324 AD and eliminated all his opponents, the mint of Nicomedia reached his cruising speed. Around 363 AD, the emperor Julian reformed the monetary system and reduced the production of the workshop to 3 officinae. Finally during the time of Arcadius around 395 AD, there were only 2 offices opened and the quantity of coins produced slowly decreased until the Byzantine period. The mintmarks for this city are : MN, N,NIC, NICO, NIK, SMN. About the quality of the coinage, the level is equal to the other mints of the empire. The artistic style is described as very oriental with a peculiar lack of realism, but over the years the celators refined their skills and reached the degree of all the imperial workshop.
This mint was active under the following issuer:
Diocletian, Maximian I , Galerius, Constantius I, Severus, Maximinus Daia, Constantine I, Licinius I, Galeria Valeria, Constantine II, Crispus, Licinius II, Constantius, Constantius II, Fausta, Helena, Sextus Martinianus, Constans, Dalmatius, Constantius Gallus, Julian, Jovian, Valens, Valentinian I, Procopius, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius I, Arcadius, Aelia Flaccilla and Honorius.

How many different examples could we find ? Please show us your Nicomedian examples!

Voici my modest contribution to this thread :
CONSTANTINE

CONSTANS

GRATIAN

 

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Helena (Augusta)
Coin: AE3
FL HELENA AVG - diademed bust right, wearing mantle and necklace
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE - Securitas standing, lowering branch lowering branch with left hand, raising hem of robe with right hand. Mintmark MN Gamma.
Exergue:
Mint: Nicomedia (AD 325-326)
Wt./Size/Axis: 2.74g / 17.5mm / -
References:

• RIC VII Nicomedia 129 Gamma
• Sear 16620

 

Here's a scarce issue from my old folder under Licinius I. RIC VII-Nicomedia-44D.

 

Maximinus II

Licinius

Licinius II

Constantine I
Urbs Roma

Crispus

Constantine II

 

Here’s a special coin from Nicomedia, and probably the rarest in my collection; a Galerius argentus which is unlisted in RIC. Someone even wrote a piece about in on Forvm:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/notinric/6nic-22b.html

 

Cettte piece is also from my old folders. It was struck under Constantine II and rated R4. RIC VII- SMN- 35.

 

Early 4th century
Nicomedia mint
Obvs: DEAE SANC CERERI, veiled and draped bust of Ceres left, holding grain ear and poppy in raised right hand.
Revs: GEN CIVI T NICOM, Fortuna Redux standing facing, head left, holding in right hand rudder set on ground and cradling cornucopia in left arm; OPA.
AE 15x16mm, 1.46g
Ref: Vagi 2958; Van Heesch 1

 

CARACALLA
AE23
OBVERSE: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
REVERSE: NIKOMHDEΩN ΔIC NEΩKOPΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia
Struck at BITHYNIA, Nicomedia, 198-217 AD
7.1g, 23mm
RG 234; WADD RG S546,234(1-3)

GALERIUS
AE Follis
OBVERSE: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: GENIO AVGVSTI CMH, Genius standing left, modius on head, chlamys over shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae, SMNA in ex
Struck at Nicomedia 308-311 AD
7.6g, 26mm
RIC VI 54a, A

CONSTANTINE I
AE3
OBVERSE: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets & star above, no door, SMNB in ex.
Struck at Nicomedia 324-325 AD
2.9g, 19mm
RIC VII 90,B

LICINIUS II
AE Follis
OBVERSE: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted & cuirassed bust left, holding spear & shield
REVERSE: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe & leaning on sceptre, eagle with wreath left, captive right; X over II Mu in right field; SMNB in ex.
Struck at Nicomedia 321-324 AD
3.0g, 19mm
RIC VII 49

CRISPUS
AE3
OBVERSE: D N FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: PROVIDEN TIAECAESS Jupiter stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, leaning on scepter, holding Victory on globe. In field to l., palm branch; in field to r., dot A; in exergue, SMN
Struck at Nicomedia 317 - 320 A.D
2.92g, 18mm
RIC VII 32

CONSTANS
AE2
OBVERSE: D N CONSTANS P F AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe
REVERSE: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier dragging young barbarian from hut beneath tree of one branch with millet-like head with a multi-leaved stalk on each side, SMNA in ex.
Struck at Nicomedia 348-351 AD
3.8g, 20.5mm
Nicomedia RIC VIII 72

VALENTINIAN I
AE3
OBVERSE: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Valentinian advancing right, holding labarum and dragging captive. Mintmark SMNA
Struck at Nicomedia 364-375AD
2.1g, 18mm
RIC 9a

HONORIUS
AE2
OBVERSE: D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing, head right, holding labarum & globe, star in right field, SMNA in ex
Struck at Nicomedia, 392-95 AD
4.9g, 22mm
RIC 46c

JUSTINIAN I
AE Half Follis
OBVERSE: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield with horseman motif, cross to right
REVERSE: Large K, ANNO to left, chi-rho above, regnal year XVIIII to right, mintmark NI
Struck at Nicomedia 545-6 AD
10.2g, 25mm
SB 0203

JUSTINIAN I
AE Half Follis
OBVERSE: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield with horseman motif, cross to right
REVERSE: Large K, ANNO to left, chi-rho above, regnal year XVIIII to right, mintmark NI
Struck at Nicomedia 545-6 AD
10.2g, 25mm
SB 0203

 

Here's a Galerius from Nicomedia with an interesting ligature:


Galerius Maximianus, Roman Empire, AE1, 308–311 AD, Nicomedia mint. Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; head of Galerius, laureate, r. Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI CMH (ligated); Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over l. shoulder, standing l., pouring liquid from patera in r. hand and holding cornucopiae in l. hand; in exergue, SMNA. 26mm, 7.52g. Ref: RIC VI Nicomedia 54a or 66a.

 

ROMAN EMPIRE. Julian II. 361-364 AD. Æ Double Maiorina (8.98 gm; 27 mm). Nicomedia, AD 363-364. D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVB, bull standing right, two stars above; NIKB in exergue. RIC 121.

 

This thread needs a Galeria Valeria!


Galeria Valeria, AD 293(?)-311.
Roman Æ Follis, 26 mm, 6.64 gm.
Nicomedia mint, 308-310 CE.
Obv: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: VENERI VI-CTRICI CMH, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and drapery; in exergue, SMNA.

 

Galerius Augustus


Maximinus II Augustus

 

Terrific write up and coins. So when did minting stop in Nicomedia?

These are kind of late, I'd guess - two folles of Heraclius from Nicomedia (SB 834; MIB 175; DOC Type 2), years 4 and 5 (613-615 A.D.). Big sloppy overstrikes:

 

KINGDOM OF BITHYNIA. Prusias II Cynegus
AE22. 6.38g, 21.9mm. Nikomedia mint, circa 182-149 BC. SNG Cop 635; RecGen 26; HGC 7, 629. O: Wreathed head of Dionysos right. R: BASILEWS BAΣILEΩΣ ΠPOYΣIOY, Centaur (Chiron) advancing right, playing kithara; monogram below raised foreleg.
Ex stevex6 Collection; ex Dr. Lawrence D. Sporty Collection

One from the Republican period...

BITHYNIA, Nikomedia
AE25. 8.4g, 25.2mm. BITHYNIA, Nikomedia, 59/8 BC .C. Papirius Carbo, Proconsul of Bithynia et Pontus (62-59 BC). HGC 7. 596 (R1); SNG Cop 545. O: NIKOMHΔEΩN, Laureate head of Zeus right. R: ΕΠΙ ΓΑΙΟΥ / ΠΑΠΙΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΡΒΩΝΟΣ, Roma seated left on shields, holding Nike and spear; PΩMH in exergue, ΔΚΣ (date) beneath throne.

A Roman provincial:

PLAUTILLA
AE Assarion. 3.68g, 19.4mm. BITHYNIA, Nicomedia, circa AD 202-205. RG 253 (same obv. die); Lindgren & Kovacs 172 (same obv. die). O: ΦOY ΠΛAYTIΛΛA CEBA-CTH, draped bust right. R: NIKOMHΔEΩN - ΔIC NEΩKO/PΩN (second neocorate), (Female?) Ichthyocentaur, diademed, nude, with forefeet of horse and serpentine-shaped fishtail, riding left over waves, holding rudder over left shoulder and in extended right hand unknown object (dolphin?).

Two Imperial favorites...

LICINIUS I
AE Follis. 7.41g, 22.8mm. Nicomedia mint, circa AD 311. RIC VI Nicomedia 69a corr. (no eagle at feet). O: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG, laureate head right. R: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, chlamys hanging behind, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; A in right field, SMN in exergue.
Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (1853-1923)

MAXIMIANUS
AR Argenteus. 3.11g, 17.9mm. Nicomedia mint, circa AD 295-296. RIC VI Nicomedia 25b; RSC 553c. O: MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right. R: VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, campgate with four turrets, doors open, and star above archway; SMNΓ in exergue.

 

GALERIA VALERIA

Galeria Valeria AE Follis
Attribution: RIC VI 57 Nicomedia
Date: 308-310 AD
Obverse: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, Diademed robed bust right
Reverse: VENERI VI-CTRICI, CMH monogram, Venus standing left, holding apple , SMNΓ in exergue
Size: 22.94mm
Weight: 5.42 grams


Constantine's Mother:

RI Helena mother Constantine AE Follis Securitas Nicomedia mint 325-326 CE 19mm 3.3g RIC-95 Sear 16619

 

Macrinus Nikomedia AE30 /NEIKOMHΔEΩN ΔIC NEΩKOPΩN

 

I have this rough, tiny Marcian.. 9.8mm (sorry for the photo)
He is missing from your list of issuers from Nicomedia.

 

My one coin from the Nicomedia mint: Diocletian, silvered AE Follis, 294-96 AD, Nicomedia Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG/ Rev. Genius standing left, pouring out patera & holding cornucopiae, GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, mintmark SMN (Nicomedia). RIC VI 27a, ERIC II 539, Cohen 149. 27.8 mm., 8.6 g.