Æ27 - Caracalla ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΕΩΝ ΔΙϹ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ

Nicomedia's title *Dis Neokoros* — "twice temple warden" — was a mark of imperial cult status granted by Rome, and fiercely contested among the rival cities of Bithynia. Nicomedia and Nicaea spent generations in bitter competition over neokorate honors, a rivalry that played out in petitions to successive emperors and, visibly, in civic coinage that advertised whatever titles had been won.

Under Caracalla, Nicomedia held two neokorate grants. A third would follow under Elagabalus.