Nicopolis ad Istrum - Herakles





Province Moesia Inferior
City Nicopolis ad Istrum
Size (mm) 26
Weight (g) 10.84
Die Axis 180
Tariff 4 assaria
Governor Statius Longinus
Ob. Leg. M OPELLI DIADOV-MENIANOC K
Ob. Desc. Bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right
Meaning Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, Caesar
Rev. Leg. VΠ CTATIOV ΛONΓINOVNIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICT
Rev. Desc. Herakles to right leaning on club, right hand behind back (Lysippos's Weary Herakles )
Meaning Consular legate Statius Longinus , (Governor) of the residents of Nikopolis on the (river) Istrus – honouring a hero
References; Collection; BMC:-, SNG.Cop:-
Notes: Nikopolis ad Istrum was a Roman and an early Byzantine town founded in 101-106 AD by the Roman emperor Trajan to honour the victories over the Dacian tribes, which lived in the lands of today’s Romania. The ruins of that town are situated near the village of Nikup, close to the town of Veliko Turnovo, capital of the Second Bulgarian State during the Middle Ages. The town has a rectangular plan, straight streets orientated towards the four directions of the world, crossing each other at a right angle and covers an area of 21.55 hectares (510 x 445 m). The town was abandoned at the beginning of the 7th century. Nikopolis ad Istrum can be loosely read as “The city of Victory on the river Ister” although it was really situated on a tributary. It probably got this name to distinguish it from the nearby Nikopolis ad Mestum