Æ31 - Antoninus Pius ΤΟΝ ΚΤΙϹΤΗΝ ΝΙΚΑΙΕΙϹ

The title ΚΤΙϹΤΗϹ — "founder" or "refoundер" — was not bestowed lightly by Greek civic communities. Nicaea applying it to Antoninus Pius almost certainly reflects an imperial benefaction, possibly earthquake relief or a building grant, of the kind Antoninus distributed to several Bithynian cities during his reign. Unlike his predecessor Hadrian, who traveled extensively and earned such honors in person, Antoninus never left Italy after his accession — making this honorific a diplomatic gesture toward a distant emperor who responded to petitions rather than visits.