Nikopolis ad Istrum, Commodus, bronze coin — Zeus with bare torso (CN type 3883)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 187–192
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum in Moesia inferior under Commodus, dated AD 187–192. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3883 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus, right. Legend: ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ. Reverse: Zeus with bare torso, sitting left, holding a bowl with his right hand, his left arm rested on a scepter, infront of him to his left an eagle to left, head right. Legend: ΝΕΙΚΟΠ [..] ΙϹΤ ΗΓΕΜ ΚΑΙΚ ϹΕΡΒΙΑ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 12.18 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 26.9–29.5 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, p. 351, nr. 1232.1.
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
Nicopolis ad Istrum was a Roman and Early Byzantine town located in Moesia inferior, reaching its zenith during the reigns of Hadrian, the Antonines, and the Severan dynasty. Commodus served as Roman emperor from 177 to 192, reigning alongside his father Marcus Aurelius before ruling alone from 180 until his assassination in 192. This bronze coin represents a civic issue struck by the town under his imperial rule between AD 187 and 192.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26.9–29.5 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 12.18 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Nikopolis ad Istrum
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Commodus
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate head of Commodus, right.
- Reverse type
- Zeus with bare torso, sitting left, holding a bowl with his right hand, his left arm rested on a scepter, infront of him to his left an eagle to left, head right.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡ ΑVΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ΝΕΙΚΟΠ [...] ΙϹΤ ΗΓΕΜ ΚΑΙΚ ϹΕΡΒΙΑ
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/3883
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 3883
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 bibliographyp. 351, nr. 1232.1
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution