Nikopolis ad Mestum, Caracalla, 5 unit — Demeter standing left (CN type 11839)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 209–212
Issuing entity
Thrace5 unit in bronze struck at Nikopolis ad Mestum in Thrace under Caracalla, dated AD 209–212. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 11839 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of bearded Caracalla, right. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΑΝΤΩΝ(Ε)ΙΝΟϹ. Reverse: Demeter (Hygieia?) standing left, holding patera and sceptre entwined by serpent. Legend: ΟVΛ(Π) ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ ΠΡ(ΟϹ) ΜΕϹΤΩ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 15.52 g (mean of 4 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 28–31 mm (from 5 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Komnick, Die Münzprägung von Nicopolis ad Mestum: Griechisches Münzwerk, Berlin 2003, p. 58, 61, 65, nr. 20, 28-29, 46.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 3
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 1
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This coin was produced by the Roman town of Nicopolis ad Mestum in the province of Thrace, located on the left bank of the Mesta river near modern Garmen. Although also known as Nicopolis ad Nestum, the form "ad Mestum" appears on civic coins of the Roman period. The piece was issued under Caracalla, a member of the Severan dynasty who was proclaimed co-ruler by his father Septimius Severus in 198. After his brother Geta was raised to co-ruler in 209 and their father died in 211, Caracalla had Geta killed by the Praetorian Guard, governing alone until 217.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- 5 unit
- Recorded diameter
- 28–31 mm (from 5 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 15.52 g (mean of 4 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Nikopolis ad Mestum
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Caracalla
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of bearded Caracalla, right.
- Reverse type
- Demeter (Hygieia?) standing left, holding patera and sceptre entwined by serpent.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡΗ ΑΝΤΩΝ(Ε)ΙΝΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ΟVΛ(Π) ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ ΠΡ(ΟϹ) ΜΕϹΤΩ
Identification
- Period
- Roman Imperial Period
- How to identify
- Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
- Type corpus record
- https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/11839
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 11839
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Recorded
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 58, 61, 65, nr. 20, 28-29, 46
Research required
- No rights-cleared photograph attached yet