Unusual Nikopolis reverse...

[kerux]

This coin caught my eye...a reverse that seems rather different than anything I've seen from Nikopolis. The specific issue is the position of the right arm as if "eating"? Any thoughts on the personage and pose of the reverse device? Coin is 22mm and emperor is undetermined.

Joe W.

[areich]

It's Harpokrates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpocrates

Andreas

[archivum]

Interesting!  Obverse legend looks like Geta to me, though I couldn't find this one in Varbanov (Bulg.); though Harpocrates reverses are not at all common from Nikopolis *, there are several examples neighborings mints (Google-searching Moesia and harpokrates).  Your coin may be a twin of another scarce specimen with an ethnic too worn to identify ("Geta's Harpokrates," https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=30374.0).

   * Earlier thread on a Septimius Severus example from Nikopolis, Varbanov (Eng.) 2522 var, with another example of Macrinus:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=23794

[kerux]

Here is a smaller Septimius Severus issue from Nikopolis found at Wildwinds. It is referenced to Moushmov 1005...but I see no reference to a Geta Harpocrates issue.

Joe W.

[archivum]

Moushmov's terribly sketchy compared with Varbanov; that's the beauty of those other Forum links which confirm just how scarce your coin is even by the Varbanov standard.

[kerux]

I have found no comparable specimens...and it is Geta.

AE22 (7.2g)

Legends read:

Obv: ACE (T) - ( )ETACKA
Rev: NIKO :Greek_Pi:O :Greek_Lambda:I - T :Greek_Omega:N :Greek_Pi:POCIC

Joe W.

[Jochen]

Nice find! I have a Harpokrates for Geta from Pautalia. Ruzicka describes the headwear as star but it should be a lotus-blossom I think.

Best regards

[archivum]

Hello again, Joe; I believe that your coin's the same issue as the first in the "Geta's Harpokrates" thread -- see Reply #2.