Nicomedia — A settlement in Bithynia also known as Astacus - Astakos
Nicomedia was an ancient Greek city in what is now Turkey. It was founded in 712 or 711 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus. After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most important cities in northwestern Asia Minor.

It was described by ancient writers as a city of superior size and magnificence, ranking next to Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch in the splendor and beauty of its buildings.

The city was sacked in AD 253 by the Goths, but when Diocletian made the city his capital in 283 AD he undertook grand restorations and built an enormous palace, an armory, mint and new shipyards. The ruins of Nicomedia are buried beneath the densely populated modern city of Izmit, which has largely obstructed comprehensive excavation.

Modern location: Izmit, Turkey
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An AE Centenionalis struck AD 402 in Nicomedia
Obverse: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, Cuirassed bust with helmeted head facing, holding spear and shield

Reverse: CONCORDIA AVGG, Constantinopolis seated in front, holding Victory on globe and sceptre

Diameter: 0 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 0 g
No notes for this coin
Sear 20805
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An AE unit struck 392-395 A.D. in Nicomedia
Obverse: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing facing, head right, holding labarum and globe

Diameter: 22 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.15 g
SMNB
RIC IX 46b
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An AE Half-Centenionalis struck 383 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; D N ARCADIVS P F AVG

Reverse: VOT / V within wreath; SMNΓ

Diameter: 13.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.32 g
19.1.383 - 25.8.383 AD
RIC IX Nicomedia 37c
(4) C. Papirius Carbo Proconsul
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An AE unit struck 59 BC in Nicomedia
Obverse: laureate head of Zeus right; NIKOMHΔEΩN

Reverse: Roma seated left on pile of shields holding Nike and spear; EΠIΓAIOY // ΠAΠIPIOY / KAPBΩNOΣ / ΔKΣ

Diameter: 23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.1 g
No notes for this coin
Rec Gen II.3 p. 514, 2; BMC Pontus 1-3; SNG Cop 545; SNGvA 736
(5) C. Papirius Carbo Proconsul
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An AE unit struck 59 BC in Nicomedia
Obverse: laureate head of Zeus right; NIKOMHΔEΩN / (ΠAI) / ΔKΣ

Reverse: Roma seated left on pile of shields holding Nike and spear; EΠI ΓAIOY // ΠAΠIPIOY / KAPBΩNOΣ // PΩMH

Diameter: 24 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 8.3 g
No notes for this coin
SNG von Aulock 532 var. (M to inner right on rev.); SNG Copenhagen 466 var. (same)
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An AE Centenionalis struck 325-326 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: laureate head right; CONSTAN_TINVS AVG

Reverse: Camp gate with 2 turrets and 8 layers, star above; PROVIDEN_TIAE AVGG / MNΓ

Diameter: 19 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.4 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VII Nicomedia 121
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An AE unit struck 337-340 A.D. in Nicomedia
Obverse: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, campgate, 2 turrets, 7 layers, dots in top layer, star above, no doors.

Diameter: 18.5 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.6 g

Mintmark: SMNΔ dot

RIC 158 var.
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An AE Centenionalis struck 348-351 A.D. in Nicomedia
Obverse: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe

Reverse: FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, Emperor bare headed and in military dress standing left, holding labarum in his right hand, resting left hand on shield. Two bound captives standing and leaning to the left before him.

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 4 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VIII 67
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An AE Centenionalis struck IX 337 - 340 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: rosette-laurel-diademed head right; D N CONSTAN_TIVS P F AVG

Reverse: two soldiers standing either side of a standard (o on banner); GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS / SMNΓ

Diameter: 13.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.8 g
IX 337 - spring 340 AD
RIC VIII Nicomedia 11; Sear 17996
(10) Crispus
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An AE Centenionalis struck 324 - 325 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: FL IVL CRIS-PVS NOB C: Bust of Crispus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, left

Reverse: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS: Camp gate with two turrets, without doors, with varying number of stone layers; star above. MintMark: -/-//SMNB

Diameter: 19.6 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.18 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VII Nicomedia 92
(11) Galerius
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An AE Follis struck 307-308 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Head of Galerius facing right, wearing laurel wreath

Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI CMH (in ligature), Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing facing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopia in left; SMNB in exergue

Diameter: 27 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 6.68 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VI Nicomedia 51 var. (officina)
(12) Honorius
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An AE Centenionalis struck AD 393-395 in Nicomedia
Obverse: DN ARCADIVS PF AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM. Arcadius in military attire on horseback pacing right, his right hand raised

Diameter: 15 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 1.4 g
RIC IX Nicomedia 47c; Sear 20997
Sear 20816ff
(13) Licinius
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An AE Follis struck 313-317 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG Laurete head right

Reverse: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI Jupiter standing left, wearing chlamys (cloak) across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe left and eagle-tipped sceptre right, eagle with wreath in lower left field and N over G (Gamma) in right field. Exergue: SMN

Diameter: 23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.8 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VII Nicomedia 15. RIC rarity: R1 (Rare)
(14) Licinius
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An AE Follis struck 313-317 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: laureate head right; IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG

Reverse: Jupiter standing left, holding Victory and scepter; eagle to left; IOVI CONS_ERVATORI / Z / SMN

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.68 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VII Nicomedia 13
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An AE Follis struck 310-311 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINUS PF AVG, Laureate bust right

Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI CMH

Diameter: 22 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 6.78 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VI 66c
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An AE Follis struck 312 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, Head of Maximinus facing right, wearing laurel wreath

Reverse: SOLI INVICTO, Sol standing facing left in long robe, with raised right hand and holding up head of Serapis in left, star Γ to left, Mintmark SMN

Diameter: 23 mm
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 3.22 g
No notes for this coin
RIC VI Nicomedia 77b
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An AE unit struck c. 180-150 BC in Nicomedia
Obverse: head of Dionysos right wearing ivy-wreath

Reverse: Centaur Chieron walking right, wearing cloak, playing lyre BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠPOYΣIOY (NΦ)

Diameter: 20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.5 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 640; BMC Pontus p. 210, 8; Rec Gen II.3 p. 225, 26; SNGvA 256 var. (monogram); HGC 7 629; SGCV II 7266
(18) Valens
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An AU Solidus struck 369 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: DN VALENS P F AVG, Bust of Valens facing right, wearing pearl diadem, cuirass, and drapery

Reverse: GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, Roma and Constantinople facing each other, each holding a scepter and together holding a shield inscribed VOT V MVLT X; SMNI in exergue

Diameter: 22 mm
Die Orientation: 5 H
Weight: 4.06 g
var is officina, 13b.2 is theta
RIC IX 13b.2 var.
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An AE Double Maiorina struck 367-375 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: DN VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, Bust of Valentinian facing right, wearing pearl diadem, cuirass, and drapery

Reverse: RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE, Valentinian standing, looking right, in military dress, holding labarum and Victory on globe; SMNA in exergue

Diameter: 27 mm
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 8.65 g
No notes for this coin
RIC IX 7a
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An AE Centenionalis struck 378-383 AD in Nicomedia
Obverse: pearl-didemed, draped and cuirassed bust right; D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG

Reverse: Roma seated facing, head left, wearing helmet, holding globe and spear; CONCOR_DIA AVGGG / SMNB

Diameter: 17.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3 g
9.8.378 - 25.8.383 AD
RIC IX Nicomedia 30b; Sear 20299