Æ24 - Valerian and Gallienus ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ, ΑΡΙϹΤΩΝ ΜΕ (Ι (ϹΤ)

Nicaea was one of the most administratively active minting cities in Bithynia during the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, producing a notably broad range of civic bronze issues under named local magistrates. The magistrate name rendered here — Ariston — appears across several die pairings from this period, suggesting a tenure of some duration or a particularly productive term in office. These provincial issues ceased abruptly when Gallienus ended most civic bronze production across the eastern empire around 268, making the window for this type quite narrow despite the fifteen-year reign span.