Catalog
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| Issuer | Nicaea (Bithynia and Pontus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
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| Composition | Bronze |
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| Obverse description | Bare-headed, cuirassed bust of Geta as Caesar facing right, depicted in three-quarter frontal view. The portrait displays the youthful features characteristic of Geta's early coinage, with the cuirass rendered in detail at the shoulder. A Greek imperial legend encircles the bust in the field, identifying the subject as Lucius Septimius Geta Caesar. The coin exhibits a dotted border around the periphery. The surface carries a heavy dark patina consistent with prolonged burial, partially obscuring the finer details of the portrait. |
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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, and issues under Septimius Severus reflect the city's eagerness to align itself with the new dynasty following the chaos of 193 AD — the Year of the Four Emperors. Severus moved quickly to consolidate loyalty across the eastern provinces, and municipal bronze coinage served the practical function of demonstrating that allegiance publicly.
The ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ ethnic legend places civic pride front and center, a consistent feature of Bithynian issues competing for prestige against rival Nicomedia.