Thank you for your reply Shawn. According to the
RIC lists prepared by Helvetica, the only known to
RIC Nicomedia Phoenix officiniae are SMNS and
SMNΔ. Both are rated R3, which while not common, does suggest there was more than one example known of each. Massanutten's coin is the third,
RIC unlisted
SMNΓ,
star in
field. I am not sure if there are any images of the
RIC listed coins; but I couldn't find any. If you know of another reference or addition to this
Nicomedia series, please let me know.
So from these three coins plus my coin, the series (assuming it doesn't extend beyond delta) would seem to be:
SMNA, SMNS,
SMNΓ,
SMNΔ and then
SMNA *,
SMNB *,
SMNΓ *,
SMNΔ *. Is this correct? If so, there are now 4 of the (at least) 8 described somewhere.
In regards to the design, personally I think there must be some cultural reason for the large
nimbus engraved on these eastern
mint coins. The
Siscia and Trier outputs are large, but some issues are very nicely done. If the engraver
had time to execute a
fine portrait and
reverse design, then they
had time to engrave longer lines on the
nimbus. I wonder if there is some connection to the well established (compared to the
west)
Christian populations in
Antioch and
Nicomedia. Perhaps the populations in these centres were more exposed to art that portrayed a large
nimbus; the
nimbus on other
Phoenix mints could be mistaken for a
laurel wreath.
