Circulation of Coinage from the Bithynian Mint of Nicaea at the Territory of Present-day Serbia

Abstract

During the first half of the 3rd century, at the Danubian and Balkan provinces and within monetary circulation, many different circumstances let to mass appearance of bronze coins minted in Nicaea. This especially refers to the third and the fourth decade, actually the reign of the emperors Alexander Severus and Gordian III. This massive introduction of Nicaea coinage in the monetary circulation of the Danubian and Balkan provinces was initiated due to the lack of small bronze nominal of senate emissions. This was possibly the main reason for opening a mint of provincial coinage in Viminacium and later on also in Sarmizegetusa (Dacia). It can be noticed that after 239 and the beginning of minting in Viminacium, the Nicaea issues almost disappear from monetary circulation at the territories of Upper Moesia and Lower Pannonia. These provinces obviously had the greatest problem with the lack of coinage.