Reverse motives with military insignia of Nicaea coinage. Finds from the Territory of present-day Serbia

Abstract

The coins of Bithynia’s provincial mint of Nicaea have been found in great numbers on the territory of the Danubian provinces, especially on Moesia Superior, from the 3rd and the 4th decade of the 3rd century. Researching these finds from the territory of present-day Serbia, a large part of which corresponds with the Roman province of Moesia Superior, greatly contributes to gaining knowledge about the methods of monetary circulation between the Asia Minor and Balkan provinces. On the other hand, classification of the reverse types with military insignia, which are a dominant motif in issues of Severus Alexander and Gordian III from Nicaea’s mint, will help with the formation of a new iconography typology. This typology is based on the reverse motifs known so far (89) and considering the appearance dynamics of new details, we expect many more varieties to emerge.