Nicomedia

Nicomedia was founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony. After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most important cities in northwestern Asia Minor. Nicomedia was the metropolis of Bithynia under the Roman Empire, and Diocletian made it the eastern capital city of the Roman Empire in 286 when he introduced the Tetrarchy system. Nicomedia remained as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire until co-emperor Licinius was defeated by Constantine the Great at the Battle of Chrysopolis in 324. Constantine mainly resided in Nicomedia as his interim capital city for the next six years, until in 330 he declared the nearby Byzantium the new capital. In the sixth century under Emperor Justinian I the city was extended with new public buildings. Situated on the roads leading to the capital, the city remained a major military center, playing an important role in the Byzantine campaigns against the Caliphate. In the 1080s, the city served as the main military base for Alexios I Komnenos in his campaigns against the Seljuk Turks, and the First and Second Crusades both encamped there. The city was briefly held by the Latin Empire following the fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade in 1204. By the summer of 1207 Emperor Henry of Flanders to agreed to evacuate Nicomedia in exchange for prisoners Emperor Theodore held. The city remained in Byzantine control for over a century after that, but following the Byzantine defeat at the Battle of Bapheus in 1302, it was threatened by the rising Ottoman beylik. The city was twice blockaded by the Ottomans before finally succumbing in 1337.

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Heraclius
AE Follis, Nicomedia
Obvs: No legend. Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Martina standing.
Revs: Large M, ANNO to left, cross above. B below, I ζ to right. NIKO
21x25mm, 5.5g
$2.50
Order # B 084
Ref: Sear 836

SOLD

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Constantine II
Mint: Nicomedia
328 to 329 AD
AE 3
Obvs: CONSTANTINVS AVG
Revs: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Camp gate. SMNΔ
17x18mm, 2.7g
$39.00
Order # RI 189
Ref: RIC VII.626.157

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Constantius II
Mint: Nicomedia
348 to 351 AD
AE 2
Obvs: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG, Emperor holding globe.
Revs: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Constantius with two captives and holding Chi Rho standard.SMNЄ
20mm, 3.8g
$49.00
Order # RI 191
Ref: RIC VIII.476.67

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Valentinian II
Mint: Nicomedia
383 to 388 AD
AE 4
Obvs: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG
Revs: SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Victory holding trophy and dragging captive. + SMNB
13mm, 1.2g
$45.00
Order # LR 077
Ref: RIC IX.45a

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Great Persecution
305 to 313 AD
Nicomedia mint
Obvs: DEAE SANC CERERI, veiled and draped bust of Ceres left, holding grain ear and poppy in raised right hand.
Revs: GEN CIVI T NICOM, Fortuna Redux standing facing, head left, holding in right hand rudder set on ground and cradling cornucopia in left arm; OPA.
AE 13x14mm, 1.23g
$100.00
Order # RI 232
Ref: Vagi 2958; Van Heesch 1

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Great Persecution
305 to 313 AD
Nicomedia mint
Obvs: DEAE SANC CERERI, veiled and draped bust of Ceres left, holding grain ear and poppy in raised right hand.
Revs: GEN CIVI T NICOM, Fortuna Redux standing facing, head left, holding in right hand rudder set on ground and cradling cornucopia in left arm; OPA.
AE 15x16mm, 1.46g
$0.00
Order # RI 230
Ref: Vagi 2958; Van Heesch 1

NFS