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Orbis Collectibles

Nikomedia, Britannicus, bronze coin — Capricorn on an arch facing right (CN type 24550)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 47–48

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Nikomedia under Britannicus, dated AD 47–48. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 24550 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Bare-headed and draped bust of Britannicus, right. Legend: ΒΡΙΤΑΝΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΥΙΟΣ. Reverse: Capricorn on an arch(?) facing right. Legend: ΕΠΙ ΚΑΔΙΟΥ ΡΟΥΦΟΥ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΟΥ ΠΑΤΡ / ΓΕΥ/ΔΟΣ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.01 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 21 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Burnett et al., RPC I: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius: 44 BC-AD 69, London [u.a.] 1992, nr. 2075; Imhoof-Blumer, Monnaies grecques, Paris 1883, p. 240, nr. 62; Waddington et al., Recueil général des monnaies grecques d'Asie Mineure. Pont et Paphlagenie 1.1, Paris 1925, p. 236, nr. 6, pl. 35, pic. 4; Linked type corpus; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, born in AD 41, was the son of the Roman Emperor Claudius and Valeria Messalina. Regarded as his father's prospective heir during his early childhood, Britannicus's position altered significantly after his mother's downfall in AD 48 and Claudius's remarriage to Agrippina the Younger. This provincial bronze coin was struck in AD 47–48 under Britannicus at Nicomedia, an ancient Greek city located in modern Turkey.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
21 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.01 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Nikomedia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Britannicus

Design

Obverse type
Bare-headed and draped bust of Britannicus, right.
Reverse type
Capricorn on an arch(?) facing right.
Obverse legend
ΒΡΙΤΑΝΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΥΙΟΣ
Reverse legend
ΕΠΙ ΚΑΔΙΟΥ ΡΟΥΦΟΥ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΟΥ ΠΑΤΡ / ΓΕΥ/ΔΟΣ

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/24550
Type corpus identifier
CN type 24550

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

Research required

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