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Nicomedia (Diœcesis Pontica, province of Bithynia)
Coinage is here divided into two parts, separated by the death of Galerius on 311.
- Coinage, 294–311
- Coinage, 311–337
- About Nicomedia...
- Map
104-579
 (click image to see larger picture) Diocletian augustus
—struck by Diocletian
Nicomedia, 294-295
obv.- IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANUS PF AUG; laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left holding patera + cornucopia; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic 27a; Fail 6
28mm; 9.5g; nummus
First issue from this mint. Since Diocletian was in residence at Nicomedia at the time, this coin has a good claim of being the original tetrarchic nummus.
204-036
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximianus augustus
—struck by Diocletian
Nicomedia, 295-296
obv.- MAXIMIANVS AVG; laur bust right
rev.- VICTORIAE SARMATICAE; Four-turreted camp-gate, open, with doors thrown back; SMN-Γ in ex
RIC VI Nic 25b
18mm; 3.2g; argenteus
Listed as R3
204-319
 (click image to see larger picture) Diocletian augustus
—struck by Diocletian
Nicomedia, 303-304
obv.- IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; SMNB
RIC VI Nic 29a
28mm; 10.2g; nummus
ex Elliot-Kent Collection
204-217
 (click image to see larger picture) Galerius caesar
—struck by Diocletian
Nicomedia, 303-304
obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; Laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Naked Genius standing l. pouring liquid from patera and holding cornucopia; SMNB in ex
RIC VI Nic 30b
27mm; 9.6g; nummus
Rated Scarce in RIC.
204-295
(click image to see larger picture)
Severus II augustus
—struck by Galerius
Nicomedia, 306-307
obv.- IMP GAL VAL SEVERVS PF AVG; laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over shouder, right hand holding patera from which liquor flows, left holding cornucopia; SMNA in ex
RIC VI Nic 48 [var]
28mm; 8.8g; nummus
No coins for Severus II with this mintmark are catalogued, either as caesar or as augustus. In fact, RIC does not list any bronze coins from Severus at all.
This issue is dated in RIC as summer 307, but since Severus was already deposed by then (most likely in April), the date in RIC is probably wrong and it was struck 306-early 307. The RIC footnote for the issue notes, "So far lacking issues for Severus, and thus probaby falling after the spring of 307" but this coin disproves that argument. If it was catalogued, it would be RIC 48b.
From the collection of Lawrence Feinberg.
104-896
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II caesar
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 307
obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laur bust right
rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left holding a patera and cornucopiae. SMNB in ex
RIC VI 49a
24mm; 5.8g; nummus
Listed as R in RIC.
104-492
 (click image to see larger picture) Galerius augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 307-308
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; Laureate head right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI CH; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left; SMNA in ex.
RIC VI Nic 51; Fail 191; Sear 3718
25mm; 7.0g; nummus
CMH most likely is a value mark, indicating 48 coins per pound of bronze. Rated R in RIC.
104-486
 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I fil aug
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 308-309
obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTINVS FIL AVG;
rev.- GENIO CAESARIS CMH (lig); Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; SMNB in exergue
RIC VI Nic 56; Fail 194a
26mm; 6.2g; nummus
ex Clayton collection
104-478
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 310-311
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI CH; Genius standing left, holding cornucopia and chlamys, holding patera and pouring liquid; in ex, SMNe
RIC VI Nic 66c; Fail 191b
23mm; 5.4g; nummus
scarcer variety with C[M]H suffix -- value indication, 48/lb ?
104-907
(click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Cyzicus, 313
obv.- IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; laureate / draped bust right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI CMH; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; S in field, SMK in ex
RIC VI Cyz 103
21mm; 3.3g; nummus
Rated S in RIC
104-766
(click image to see larger picture) Licinius I augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 311
obv.- IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG; laur bust right
rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, resting hand on hip and holding club with lion skin; Δ in field; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic 68 [var]; Fail 201
21mm; 2.9g; nummus
The HERCVLI VICTORI reverse type was only struck occasionally from 311-313 in the mints under control of Maximinus II: Nicomedia, Cyzicus, Antioch, and Alexandria, and, briefly, Heraclea after Maximinus took control of the city from Licinius and struck his own coin types before his defeat. This type is not recorded anywhere for Licinius (except for a single, very rare issue from Alexandria); if it were cataloged, it would be RIC 68a.
204-023
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 311
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laur bust right
rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, holding globe and sceptre; D//SMN
RIC VI Nic 69b
22mm; 5.0g; nummus
listed as S in RIC
104-728
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 312
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; Laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; SMN in ex, B in field
RIC VI Nic 71b; Fail 190g
22mm; 5.5g; nummus
104-656
(click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 311
obv.- IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; laureate / draped bust right
rev.- VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Mars advancing right, holding spear, shield, and trophy; B in field; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic 70c [sic]; Fail 212
22mm; 4.5g; nummus
This type only listed for Licinius (70a) and Maximinus (70b), not Constantine, which would be expected at 70c.
204-088
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 312
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; laureate bust right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia, eagle at feet with wreath in beak, SMN in ex., A in right field
RIC VI Nic 72b; Failmezger 190f
21mm; 5.1g; nummus
ex Failmezger Collection
104-799
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 312
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG;
rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, holding lion skin and leaning on a club; *B in field, SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic 75; Fail 201
21mm; 4.8g; nummus
204-108
 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 312
obv.- IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laur bust right
rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, resting hand on hip and holding club with lion skin; * Δ in field; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic [75c]; Fail 201
21mm; 4.9g; nummus
Unlisted in RIC for Constantine (or Licinius, for that matter), matches RIC 75 for Maximinus; if it were cataloged, it would be RIC 75c.
Tough to get a good picture of this coin because where the silvering has worn off, the metal is patinated pure black, but it is actually quite nice with a terrific portrait and a wonderfully detailed Hercules.
104-806
 (click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 312
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; laur bust right
rev.- VIRTVTI EXERCITI; Mars advancing right, shouldering trophey and carrying shield, dragging captive by the hair; *-Γ in field; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic 78b; Fail 212
21mm; 4.1g; nummus
Unlisted in RIC for this officina (only Z listed), but probably to be expected. Rated R for officina Z
104-584
(click image to see larger picture) Maximinus II augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 311-313
obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; Laureate bust right
rev.- VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Virtus walking right holding a spear, trophy and shield ; SMN in ex, A * in right field
RIC VI Nic 78b [var]; Fail 212.
20mm; 4.5g; nummus
RIC only lists the "dragging captive" variety of this reverse type. This is the same reverse type as RIC 70.
204-165
 (click image to see larger picture) Licinius I augustus
—struck by Maximinus II
Nicomedia, 313
obv.- IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG; Laureate bust of Licinius facing right
rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; altar with flames before; * in left field; Δ in right field; SMN in ex
RIC VI Nic [80]
21mm; 4.1g; nummus
"Genius" reverse type is completely missing from RIC for this series, for all emperors. This would have been among the very last coins struck by Maximinus II.
104-724
 (click image to see larger picture) Licinius I augustus
—struck by Licinius I
Nicomedia, 313-317
obv.- IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG; Laureate bust of Licinius facing right
rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, chlamys hanging behind, right hand holding a Victory on globe and left leaning on sceptre, an eagle with a wreath at lower left, epsilon in right field, SMN in exergue
RIC VII Nic 13
21mm; 3.6g; nummus
204-153
 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus
—struck by Licinius I
Nicomedia, 317-320
obv.- IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate, draped bust left, holding mappa in left hand, globe and sceptre in right
rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and leaning on eagle-tipped sceptre, palm to left, Z to right, SMN in ex.
RIC VII Nic 23
20mm; 3.3g; nummus
104-541
 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus
—struck by Constantine I
Nicomedia, 330-335
obv.- CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG; Diademed draped cuir bust right
rev.- GLORIA EXERCITVS; Two soldiers on either side of two standards; SMNA in ex
RIC VII Nic 188; Fail 365
18mm; 3.06g; nummus
Interesting, vivid portrait style for this period.
104-876
 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I commem
—struck by Constantius II
Nicomedia, 347-348
obv.- DN CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG; Veiled Constantine I right
rev.- VN MR; Constantine, veiled, standing right; SMNZ in ex
Fail 400
16mm; 1.5g; AE4
Nicomedia was already an important city when Diocletian made it his capital shortly after taking power in 286. It was the imperial residence in 294 when the Tetrarchy commenced and the reformed coins began to be struck, evidenced by the SM ("sacras monetas") added to the mintmark. However, the coinage is not nearly as abundant as one might expect. The initial issue of 294 is scarce; thereafter, no coins were struck until 303, when Diocletian was again in residence.
It is interesting that even though Diocletian announced his abdication from Nicomedia, the local mint did not strike any of the abdication folles like the other mints. (Although it could be supposed that, since he was actually in the city at the time, there would be no need to publicize the event with coinage.) Galerius assumed control of the mint after Diocletian's abdication and continued striking the standard types. Thereafter, mint continued to strike coins uninterrupted into Byzantine times.
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Timeline
712 BC — City of Olbia founded.
264 BC — City is rebuilt and renamed Nicomedia (Greek Νικομήδεια) by King Nicomedes I of Bithynia.
183 BC — Hannibal—exiled after the Punic Wars—visits city and commits suicide nearby.
74 BC — City passes into Roman control (along with rest of Kingdom of Bithynia) after death of King Nicomedes IV.
112 AD — Pliny the Younger serves as governor for Trajan.
256 AD — Sacked by Goths.
286 AD — Diocletian makes the city his capital.
303 — Nicomedia is Ground Zero for Christian persecutions.
305 — Diocletian announces his abdication in Nicomedia.
~315-338 — Eusebius serves as bishop and baptizes Constantine.
337 — Constantine dies in Nicomedia.
354 — Earthquake and fire virtually destroy city.
711 — Pope Constantine visits city.
1338 — Conquered by Sultan Orkhan for Ottoman Turks; name changes to İzmit.
1999 — Devastating earthquake kills thousands of people.
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