RPC I, 2079

 

Image of specimen #1

 

Coin type
Volume I
Number 2079
Province Bithynia-Pontus
Region Bithynia
City Nicomedia
Reign Claudius
Magistrate Lucius Mindius Balbus (proconsul)
Dating c. 48/9
Obverse inscription ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΝΕΙΚΗ
Obverse design poppy between two ears of corn; above, star and crescent
Reverse inscription ΕΠΙ ΜΙΝΔΙΟΥ ΒΑΛΒΟΥ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΟΥ, ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩΣ ΝΚΟ
Reverse design thunderbolt
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 20 mm
Axis 12
Reference Rec 16
Specimens 4 (3 in the core collections)
Note The obv. legend of 1 was read (inwardly) by Imhoof-Blumer (JIAN I, 1898, p. 31, no. 35, followed by Rec 16) as [...ΠΡΩΤ]Η ΠΟΝ [ΚΑΙ ΒΕΙΘΥΝΙΑΣ]. This sort of legend could be paralleled by the coin of Nicaea minted under Cadius Rufus (2042) with ΠΡΩΤΗ ΠΟΛΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΠΑΡΧΕΙΑΣ, but the reading here is not at all certain. It is also possible to read the traces of legend outwardly: on 1 ]ΑΤΡ ΝΕΙΚΗ[ or as ]ΤΡΩΝΟΣ ΜΗ[ is possible; 2 appears to read ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ[; and 3 seems to include the word ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ[. It is hard to reconcile these traces into any coherent legend, which is therefore best left uncertain until a clearer specimen appears. —— Corr: The obv. legend on SNG Bern 658 is certainly ΤI ΚΛΑΥΔ[ ]ΕIΚΗ, suggesting that the correct reading is ΤI ΚΛΑΥΔIΟΥ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΝΕIΚΗ
Correction Corrected coin-type (post publication)

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     ✸ B: I-B Rec, pl. LXXXIX.3
2 2     B: 9737
3 3     V: GR 15754
4 4     Bern SNG Righetti 658