| Bithynia |  |
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| Kingdom of Bithynia, Nikomedes II Epiphanes, 149 - 128 B.C. |   | Nikomedes II accompanied his father, Prusias II, to Rome in 167 B.C., where he was brought up under the care of the Senate. His father, favoring a younger sibling for succession, decided to assassinate him. But Nikomedes discovered the plot, seized the throne and put his father to death. He remained faithful to Rome, assisting in the war with Attalus, king of Pergamus in 131 B.C. |
| SH63494. Silver tetradrachm, BMC Pontus p. 213, 3; Rec Gén p. 229, 40; Cohen Dated 443; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG Tüb -, VF, dark hoard patina with some chipping (stabilized), weight 14.896 g, maximum diameter 33.6 mm, die axis 0o, Nikomedia mint, 129 - 128 B.C.; obverse diademed head right; reverse BASILEWS EPIFANOUS NIKOMHDOU, Zeus Stephanophoros standing left, wreath extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, eagle left on thunderbolt in inner left field above monogram over QXR (year 169); $450.00 (€346.50) |
| Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Creteia-Flaviopolis, Bithynia |  | |
| SH60442. Bronze AE 29, MFA Boston accession nr 67.319; CNG EA 160, lot 145; cf. SNGvA 524 (Geta); cf. Rec Gén 36 (Geta); SNG Cop -; BMC Bithynia -; SNG Tüb -; Weber -, nice aVF, weight 8.462 g, maximum diameter 28.8 mm, die axis 180o, Creteia-Flaviopolis (Gerede, Turkey) mint, obverse AU K M AUR ANTWNINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind; reverse KRHTIEWN FLAOUIOPOLITWN, eagle standing facing, head right, wings open, on garlanded altar decorated with bucranium, flanked by a pair of legionary standards; scratch on reverse at 8:00; very rare; $400.00 (€308.00) |
| Titus, 24 June 79 - 13 September 81 A.D., Koinon of Bithynia |  | Struck along with the Judaean victory issue.
This type is missing from most references and collections. We were unable to find another example online or in recent sales.
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| RP65386. Bronze AE 21, RPC II 608 (5 spec); Rec Gén 17, cf. BMC Bithynia p. 105, 7 (Domitian, possibly in error); SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG Tüb -; SNG Righetti -; Lindgren -, VF, excellent centering, weight 5.626 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 0o, as Caesar, 69 - 79 A.D.; obverse AUTOKRA TITOS KAISAR SEBAS UIOS, laureate head right; reverse EPI M MAIKIOU ROUFOU ANQUPATOU, bundle of five grain stalks; ex Frank Kovacs; extremely rare; $400.00 (€308.00) |
| Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Nikomedia(?), Bithynia, Agrippina Reverse |  | According to Pliny the Elder, Aggripina was a beautiful and reputable woman. Many ancient historians, however, accuse Agrippina of poisoning Claudius and described her as ruthless, ambitious, violent and domineering. |
| RP63230. Bronze AE 26, RPC I 2100, BMC Bithynia -, SNG Cop -, VF/F, rough, weight 8.622 g, maximum diameter 26.2 mm, die axis 180o, Nicomedia (?) mint, obverse TI KLAUDIOS KAISAR SEBASTOS GERMANI, bare head left; reverse AGRIPPINA SEBASTH, draped bust of Agrippina II right, monogram below; rare; $350.00 (€269.50) |
| Domitian, 13 September81 - 18 September96 A.D., Nicomedia, Bithynia |  | |
| SH57026. Bronze AE 21, RPC II 658 var (rev leg), Rec Gén 32 var (same), BMC Pontus 7 var (same), SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, SNG Tübingen -, VF, weight 10.055 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 180o, Nicomedia mint, 81 - 96 A.D.; obverse AUT DOMITIANOS KAISAR SEB GERM, laureate head right; reverse H MHTROPOLIS KAI PRWTH BIQUNIAS K, turreted and draped bust of Tyche left, NKO-MH ligature across field; very rare; $345.00 (€265.65) |
| Herakleia Pontika, Bithynia, Time of Klearchos, 364 - 352 B.C. |  | Heraclea Pontica (today Karadeniz Eregli, on the Black Sea in Turkey) was founded at the mouth of the river Lycus by the Greek city-state of Megara. It was named after Heracles whom the Greeks believed entered the underworld at a cave nearby. From the middle of the 5th century B.C., the city became important in the Black Sea trade, and its economic heyday was the 4th century B.C. The prosperity of the city, damaged by the Galatians and the Bithynians, was utterly destroyed in the Mithridatic Wars. |
| GS63044. Silver obol, SNG Cop 418; SNG BM Black Sea 1593; Rec Gen p. 349, 30, aVF, weight 0.814 g, maximum diameter 10.7 mm, die axis 0o, Herakleia Pontika mint, obverse HRAK, head of Herakles left; reverse trophy of arms, K over club left, bow in bowcase right; scarce; $175.00 (€134.75) |
| Kingdom of Bithynia, Prusias I and II, 238 - 149 B.C. |  | |
| GB59571. Bronze AE 28, SNG Cop 642; SNGvA 6884; Rec Gén p. 226, 28; BMC Pontus -, VF, weight 13.110 g, maximum diameter 27.7 mm, die axis 315o, Nikomedia mint, 230 - 149 B.C.; obverse head of Athena left wearing crested Corinthian style helmet; reverse BASILEWS PROUSIOU, Nike walking right holding trophy over shoulder; scarce; $165.00 (€127.05) |
| Kingdom of Bithynia, Nikomedes III Euergetes, 128 - 94 B.C. |  | Nikomedes III aided Marius during the Cimbrian War, about 103 B.C. During the later part of his reign he struggled with Mithradates, King of Pontus, for control over Cappadocia. This led to Roman intervention and the Mithradatic War. |
| GS63657. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Cop 648, SNGvA supl. 6895, BMC Pontus -, VF, holed, weight 15.064 g, maximum diameter 37.3 mm, die axis 0o, Nicomedia mint, 117 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed head right; reverse BASILEWS EPIFANOUS NIKOMHDOU, Zeus standing left, wreath in right, long scepter in left, eagle on thunderbolt over monogram and APR (year 181) in inner left field; ex Professor J.E. Seaver Collection; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Plautilla, Augusta 202 - 22 January 205 A.D., Nikaea, Bithynia, Provincial Brockage |  | A brockage occurs when a blank is struck with a previously struck coin which adhered to the opposite die.Click here to read a detailed explanation. |
| ER62246. Bronze AE 26, Brockage, Howgego 254 (for countermark), F, weight 11.317 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, Nicaea mint, obverse FOUL PLAUTILLA CEB (or similar), draped bust right, c/m: Nike within oval incuse; reverse incuse of the obverse; $120.00 (€92.40) |
| Kingdom of Bithynia, Prusias I or II, 238 - 149 B.C. |  | Bithynia was a flourishing kingdom in northwest Asia Minor founded in the early third century by Zipoetes, chieftan of the Bythyni, a Thracian tribe. The last king of Bithynia, Nikomedes IV, bequeathed his kingdom to Rome in 74 B.C. The area became a Roman Province with Nicomedia as its capitol. |
| CM57311. Bronze AE 26, SNG Cop 626 (same countermarks in approx same positions); BMC Pontus p. 209, 6 (cm: head and lyre, Prusias I), F , green patina, weight 9.520 g, maximum diameter 27.3 mm, die axis 0o, 238 - 149 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo left; three countermarks: Artemis head left, lyre, and tripod.; reverse BASILEWS PROUSIOU, Athena-Nike standing left, wreath in extended right, left resting on shield, obscured monogram left; $95.00 (€73.15) |
| Myrlea (Apameia), Bithynia, 4th - 3rd Century B.C. |  | Myrlea was renamed Apameia, c. B.C. 202, by Prusias I, king of Bithynia, after his wife, Apama. |
| GB56748. Bronze AE 20, BMC Bithynia p. 109, 3; Rec Gén 2, Lindgren 99; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG Tübingen -, aVF, nice green patina, weight 9.325 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 180o, Bithynia, Myrlea (Apameia) mint, 4th - 3rd Century B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right; reverse bull standing right, head facing, Myrlea monogram above; rare; $75.00 (€57.75) |
| Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D., Nicaea, Bithynia |  | The first ecumenical council of the Christian church was held in Nicaea by Constantine in 325. |
| RP60183. Bronze AE 16, Rec Gén -; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG Tübingen -; BMC Pontus -; cf. Rec Gén p. 442, 348 (Septimius), Lindgren III 186 (Caracalla), VF, rough, weight 2.889 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 0o, Nicaea mint, as caesar, 198 A.D.; obverse L CEPTI GETAC KAI (or similar), head right; reverse NIKAIEWN, bull standing right; not in sources consulted, perhaps unpublished; extremely rare; $70.00 (€53.90) |
| Kingdom of Bithynia, Prusias I, 228 - 185 B.C. |  | Prusias I, son of Ziaelas, and grandson of Nikomedes I. The Bithynian Kingdom reached its zenith under his reign. He was an enlightened and courageous ruler who managed to maintain the prosperity of his realm at a time of great political turmoil in Asia Minor. --
Greek Coins and Their Values, by David R. Sear |
| GB81597. Bronze AE 19, SGCV II 7263; BMC Pontus p. 209, 9; SNG Cop 628; SNGvA 250, gVF, weight 3.653 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 0o, obverse laureate head of Apollo right; reverse BASILEWS PROUSIOU, bow and quiver; scarce; $55.00 (€42.35) |
| Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Nicomedia, Bithynia |  | Nicomedia was the Roman metropolis of Bithynia and Diocletian made it the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in 286 when he introduced the Tetrarchy system. Nicomedia remained as the eastern (and most senior) capital of the Roman Empire until co-emperor Licinius was defeated by Constantine the Great at the Battle of Chrysopolis in 324. Constantine resided mainly in Nicomedia as his interim capital for the next six years, until in 330 when he declared the nearby Byzantium (renamed Constantinople) the new capital. Constantine died in his royal villa in the vicinity of Nicomedia in 337. Due to its position at the convergence of the Asiatic roads leading to the new capital, Nicomedia retained its importance even after the foundation of Constantinople.
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| BB60541. Bronze AE 18, Rec Gén 50, SNGvA 744, aF, nice green patina, weight 2.423 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 180o, Nikomedia mint, obverse ANTWN KAI-CAP CEB, bareheaded and draped bust right; reverse DHMHT - NEIKO, Demeter standing left, veiled, stalks of grain downward in right, long scepter vertical behind in left; $18.00 (€13.86) |
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