Nikopolis ad Istrum, Gordian III., bronze coin — Façade of tetrastyle temple (CN type 22488)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 238–244
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum in Moesia inferior under Gordian III., dated AD 238–244. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 22488 (issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Façade of tetrastyle temple, shield on pediment and acroteria on roof; within Hades-Serapis enthroned left, extending right hand over Cerberus, right, holding a long sceptre in left hand. Legend: VΠ ϹΑΒ ΜΟΔЄϹΤΟV ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟϹ ΙϹΤΡΟΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 10.99 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 26–26.8 mm (from 2 recorded specimens).
Published references cited by the corpus: Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, nr. 2085; Mairat and Spoerri Butcher, RPC VII 2: Roman provincial coinage. Vol. VII 2: From Gordian I to Gordian III (AD 238–244): all provinces except Asia. print and online, London 2022, nr. 1309; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1309.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 4
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 3
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Nicopolis ad Istrum was a Roman and Early Byzantine town situated in Moesia inferior, with ruins located near modern Nikyup in northern Bulgaria. The city struck civic bronze coinage during the reign of Gordian III, who ruled as Roman emperor between AD 238 and 244. Gordian III had become the second-youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire at the age of 13 following his family's prominence under Gordian I and Gordian II.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26–26.8 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 10.99 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Nikopolis ad Istrum
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
- Reverse type
- Façade of tetrastyle temple, shield on pediment and acroteria on roof; within Hades-Serapis enthroned left, extending right hand over Cerberus, right, holding a long sceptre in left hand.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ
- Reverse legend
- VΠ ϹΑΒ ΜΟΔЄϹΤΟV ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟϹ ΙϹΤΡΟΝ
Identification
- 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/22488
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 22488
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- 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 bibliographynr. 2085
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1309
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1309
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution