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RPC VI, 3371 (temporary nr.) – Nicomedia (province of Bithynia and Pontus), Severus Alexander (early years)
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AE. Ø: 20 mm. Weight: 4.58 g.
Obverse: laureate and draped bust of a very young Severus Alexander, facing right.
Μ ΑΥΡ ΣΕΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΑΥ
Μ(ᾶρκος) Αὐρ(ήλιος) Σευ(ῆρος) Ἀλέξανδρος Αὐ(γοῦστος)
Reverse: octastyle temple, globe in the pediment.
ΝΙ ΚΟ | ΜΗ ΔΕ | Ω Ν ΤΡΙCΝΕ|ΩΚ
Νικομηδέων τρὶς νεωκόρων
«(Issued by) the Nicomedians, thrice temple-wardens» – i.e., hosting three temples where cult (typically, but not necessarily, the imperial cult) was officiated on behalf of (and funded by) the whole province, instead of being a strictly civic affair*.
* Since most collectors are likely to have at least one and probably many coins in their collection boasting the title of νεωκόρος (sometimes "twice", ΔΙC / ΤΟ Β', "thrice", ΤΡΙC / TO Γ' or even "four times temple-warden", ΤΕΤΡΑΚΙC / ΤΟ Δ'), and some may not be fully aware of what such titles actually amounted to in each city's history and everyday life, I warmly recommend checking out Barbara Burrell's state-of-the-art book 'Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors', Brill, Leiden-Boston 2004. It is not strictly about coinage, but numismatic evidence is all over the place. As far as Bithynian 'temple-wardens' are concerned another must-read is Louis Robert's 'La titulature de Nicée et Nicomédie: la gloire et la haîne' in 'Harvard Studies of Classical Philology' 81, 1977, pp. 1-39 – to my knowledge, an unsurpassed example of the use of coin types as historical sources.
Previously in the collection of some E. L. from Southern Germany (any chance that someone here can help me identifying the collector?) along with a plenty of other Roman provincials, mostly common but in very good shape. Bought from Gorny & Mosch, Auktion 278 (April 21, 2021). It hadn't been my plan to buy coins, at that auction or ever in my life; but then this one showed up while I lurked waiting for another couple inscribed weights I had promised to secure on behalf of a fellow epigraphist and friend of mine (he'd been stung by the jellyfish when I caught the Nicomedian 'Statthaltergewicht' above), and since it was going to remain unsold, I instantly decided to snatch it seconds away from the third hammer. And this is how I got infected with the bronze disease: one second after the hammer went down I found myself craving for more coins.
Incoming: a lenghty account of the tribulations of Nicomedia under Elagabalus and Severus Alexander as seen through coins, inscriptions and literary sources.
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