| Image search results - "Nikomedes" |
7273 Nikomedes II, Epiphanes, 149-128 BCSilver tetradrachm, 39.7mm, 16.65g, EF
Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus standing left holding wreath and sceptre, eagle on thunderbolt over monogram and date NP (year 150 or 149 BC) in inner left field.
Ex: Freeman & Sear
Sear 7273; BMC Pontus pg 213, #1 and plate 38, #10; SNG Cop 646v; SNG von Aulock 261; Waddington [RG] plate 32, #7.
Note: For an unknown reason, there was a large mintage in year 150, possibly because of the new King; of the coins struck that year, these 'large flan series' coins are superior.Lawrence W
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7274 Nikomedes III, Euergetes, 128-94 BCSilver tetradrachm, 37.6mm, 16.83g, Choice EF
Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY. Zeus standing left holding wreath and lotus-tipped sceptre, eagle on thunderbolt over monogram and date I(Z)OP (year 177 or 122 BC) in inner left field.
Ex: Ronald Cohen Collection
Sear 7274v; BMC Pontus, pg. 213, #4var, and Pl. XXXIX, #1; De Callatay page 54 (D30/R1); Waddington [RG] page 230v. Rare variety: De Callatay cites one specimen.
Note: This coin struck with a slightly glancing blow, creating a great portrait at expense of weak areas on the reverse.Lawrence W
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7276 Nikomedes IV, Philopator, 94-74 BCSilver tetradrachm, 34.4mm, 15.61g, EF
Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus standing left holding wreath and sceptre, eagle on thunderbolt over monogram and date EΣ (year 205 or 94 BC) in inner left field.
Ex: Forvm Ancient Coins
Sear 7276; BMC Pontus, page 215, #1; SNG von Aulock 265; SNG Cop 650
My personal favourite of this small collection because of the finely detailed portrait, 'perfect' toning, and minor imperfections like small die breaks that for me, add 'character.'
Note (courtesy Joe Sermarini): During the first year of his reign, Mithradates, king of Pontus, expelled him and placed his younger brother Socrates on the throne. The next year he was restored by the Roman army under Aquilius. Aquilius was later defeated and killed and in 88 BC, Mithradates destroyed Nikomedes' army forcing him to flee to Italy. Nikomedes' throne was again restored when Rome defeated Mithradates in 84 BC. He died childless and his will left his kingdom to Rome.Lawrence W
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7276 Nikomedes IV, Philopator, 94-74 BCSilver tetradrachm, 36.4mm, 15.51g, Nice VF
Diademed head of Nikomedes II right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus standing left, crowning King's name with wreath in right, and holding sceptre in left hand. Eagle on thunderbolt inner left field, monogram and date (BIΣ =year 212 or 87/6 BC) below. Extremely rare date.
Ex: Forvm Ancient Coins; Wayne G. Sayles
Sear 7276; BMC Pontus, pg 213, 6v; SNG Cop 651v; SNG Von Aulock 266v
Note (courtesy Joe Sermarini): In 88 BC, Mithradates destroyed Nikomedes' army forcing him to flee to Italy. His throne was not restored until Rome defeated Mithradates in 84 BC Waddington, [RG], pp. 217-8, notes, "it is difficult to explain the very rare coins that bear the dates IC, AIC, BIC. These dates correspond to 89/8 to 87/6 BC...; but between mid-88 and the end of 83, the whole of Bithynia was in the hands of Mithradates Eupator. We are forced to conjecture (no text says so) that during this period several fortified places in Bithynia remained faithful to the legitimate king and continued to strike coins in his name."Lawrence W
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Bithynia, Nikomedeia, Severus Alexander, Rec.Gen. 319Severus Alexander, AD 222-235
AE 20, 4.26g, 20.24mm, 30°
obv. M AVR CEVH.ALEZANDROS AVG
Bust, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind, laureate, r.
rev. TRIC NEWKORWN NIKOMEDEWN (ME ligate)
Astakos, nude to hips, stg. r., head l., r. foot on row, holding sceptre in
l. arm and pointing with l. hand backwards.
Rec. Gen. p.557, 319, pl.XCVI, 24
VF, black-green patina
Astakos was one of the founders of Astakos, ancestor of Nikomedia. He was worshipped until Roman times (W. Leschhorn, Gründer der Stadt, 1984, p.273) (Thanks to Dapsul!)
Astakos was founded by Colonists of Megara and later destroyed by Lysimachos. Nikomedes I. founded 264/3 a new city some miles north of the old Astakos and named it Nikomedia.
Jochen
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GREEK, Bithynian Kingdom, Nikomedes III Euergetes, 127-94 BC, AR Tetradrachm struck 126/5 BC Diademed head of Nikomedes II right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EПiΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔΩΣ Zeus standing left holding sceptre and laurel wreath capping Nikomedes name, eagle standing left on fulmen in inner left field above monogram ΩΓYE, dated below BOP (Bithynian era year 172 = 126/5 BC).
De Callatay pl. XV, D12-R1a (this coin); SNG von Aulock 6894 (same reverse die); Sear GCV 7274 (date variant).
(33mm, 16.68 g,11h)
Jencek; ex- Noble Investments (UK) PLC; ex- Spink Sale 5014 (28 September 2005) Lot 121; ex- Monnaies et Medailles (19-20 June 1975) lot 163; ex- Bank Leu Auction 2 (25 April 1972) lot 224
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Greek, Nikomedes II of Bithynia (149-127 BC)Bithynian Kingdom, Nikomedes III Euergetes, 127-94 BC, AR Tetradrachm struck 126/5 BC
Diademed head of Nikomedes II right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EПiΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔΩΣ.
(The reverse is Zeus standing left holding sceptre and laurel wreath capping Nikomedes name, eagle standing left on fulmen in inner left field above monogram ΩΓYE, dated below BOP = Bithynian era year 172 = 126/5 BC).
De Callatay pl. XV, D12-R1a (this coin); SNG von Aulock 6894 (same reverse die); Sear GCV 7274 (date variant).
(33mm, 16.68 g,11h)
Jencek; ex- Noble Investments (UK) PLC; ex- Spink Sale 5014 (28 September 2005) Lot 121; ex- Monnaies et Medailles (19-20 June 1975) lot 163; ex- Bank Leu Auction 2 (25 April 1972) lot 224
This coin holds it own amongst the masterpieces of late Hellenistic portraiture. The obverse image is that of a confident and contented ruler, Nikomedes II (149-127 BC), comfortable in his role leading a client state of Rome, while secure in the knowledge that the military might of the latter underpinned his position. Following Nikomedes II reign, the portrait on the obverse of the kingdom’s coinage continued unchanged, through the reign of his son (Nikomedes III) and grandson (Nikomedes IV). However, the issuing king can be readily identified by the date on coins and to a lesser degree by the style of the obverse.
Nikomedes II commenced the practice of dating Bithynian coinage, with reference to the era commencing 297/6 BC, this date being the date of foundation of the Bithynian Kingdom by Zipoetes. This coin was struck shortly after the death of Nikomedes II and the portrait closely resembles that on coins struck during his reign. It is an accurate portrayal of Nikomedes II. With time the portrait became increasingly stylized so that some examples struck toward the end of the kingdom’s existence bear only a passing resemblance to the original portrait.
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Nikomedes IINikomedes II Tetradrachm
35 mm 15.65 gm
Diademed head right
Zeus standing left, wreath in right, scepter in left, in inner left field eagle on thunderbolt over monogram and NPKoffy
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