Nicaea was among the most prolific provincial minting cities of the Roman east, and issues of Septimius Severus from the city are well-attested across his reign — but small bronze fractions like this one circulated hard and survived poorly. The city's mint was active in asserting Severus's legitimacy early, particularly given the dynastic chaos of 193 AD, when four emperors claimed power within a single year.
Nicaea was among the most prolific provincial minting cities of the Roman east, and issues of Septimius Severus from the city are well-attested across his reign — but small bronze fractions like this one circulated hard and survived poorly. The city's mint was active in asserting Severus's legitimacy early, particularly given the dynastic chaos of 193 AD, when four emperors claimed power within a single year.