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Æ24 - Valerian and Gallienus ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ
| Issuer | Nicaea (Bithynia and Pontus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 253-260 |
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| Reference(s) | X#74494 |
| Obverse description | Radiate and cuirassed bust of the Emperor Valerian facing left, depicted from the rear in a three-quarter back view, a distinctive and relatively uncommon portrait convention in provincial coinage. The emperor is shown holding a spear diagonally across the body and gripping a large round shield, emphasising his martial character. The surrounding Greek legend identifies him as Publius Licinius Valerianus Augustus. The style is consistent with mid-third-century Bithynian provincial workshop production, with bold if somewhat coarse die-cutting. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Nicaea was one of the most prolific civic minting authorities in Bithynia, producing bronze coinage through the reigns of dozens of emperors — but the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus represents one of the final phases of that tradition. The Roman provincial mint system was effectively dismantled within a generation of this issue, leaving civic bronzes from Nicaea an abrupt endpoint in a centuries-long local sequence.
Valerian was captured by the Sasanian king Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa in 260, ending the co-reign that defines this coin's date range.