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Æ17 - Commodus ΘΗϹΕΑ ΝΙΚΑΙΕΙϹ
| Issuer | Nicaea (Bithynia and Pontus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 177-192 |
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| Composition | Bronze |
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| Reverse description | Youthful head of the hero Theseus facing right, distinguished by the characteristic lion-scalp headdress worn over the crown of the head, its jaws framing the face in the manner associated with heroic iconography on Nicaean civic issues. The legend identifying the type is disposed around the field. The die work is typical of the modest civic mint output of Nicaea under Commodus, with a somewhat rough but legible rendering. |
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| Mintage | ND (177-192) |
| Additional information |
Nicaea's civic bronze issues under Commodus reflect the city's aggressive use of coinage to promote its mythological identity — Theseus appearing here ties the city's self-presentation to Athenian heroic tradition, a claim Nicaean civic pride pushed hard during the Antonine and Severan periods. The city and Nicomedia engaged in a prolonged rivalry over titles and honors throughout the second century, and coin iconography was a deliberate weapon in that contest.