Æ28 - Philip I ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ

Philip I's reign coincided with Rome's millennial celebrations of 248 AD, and civic mints across the eastern provinces — Nicaea among them — issued bronze coinage in unusual volume during this period, partly to meet the demand generated by the ludi saeculares festivities. Nicaea had long been one of Bithynia's dominant minting cities, frequently in competition with neighboring Nicomedia for civic prestige expressed partly through the quality and ambition of local bronze output.

Philip's tenure ended at the Battle of Verona in 249, when his forces were defeated by the army of Decius — making the window for this issue quite narrow.