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Æ35 - Septimius Severus ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ
| Issuer | Nicaea (Bithynia and Pontus) |
|---|---|
| Year | 193-211 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of Septimius Severus facing right, rendered in the characteristic provincial style of Bithynian workshops. The emperor's short curly beard and strong facial features are clearly articulated, consistent with his well-established iconographic type. A circular Greek legend surrounds the effigy, running along the outer border of the flan. The portrait conveys imperial authority through its bold, slightly stylized treatment typical of Nicaean civic coinage of the Severan period. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Nicaea's mint was unusually productive under Septimius Severus, partly because the city had backed him early in the civil wars of 193 AD against Pescennius Niger — a shrewd calculation that paid off handsomely in imperial favor. Provincial mints that demonstrated loyalty through timely support tended to receive broader striking authority, and Nicaea's output across this reign reflects exactly that dynamic.
At 23 grams, this is a heavy provincial bronze, suggesting it was struck for substantive local commerce rather than token use.