Nikopolis ad Istrum, Septimius Severus, bronze coin — Hades-Serapis seated left on throne (CN type 3947)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 193–197
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum in Moesia inferior under Septimius Severus, dated AD 193–197. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3947 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate head of Septimius Severus, right. Legend: ΑV ΚΑΙ ΛΟV ϹΕΠΤ ϹΕVΗΡΟϹ ΠΕΡ. Reverse: Hades-Serapis seated left on throne, wearing kalathos, extending right hand, holding sceptre in left hand; in front, Cerberus. Legend: VΠΑ ΠΟΛ ΑVϹΠΙΚΟϹ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤ ΠΡΟϹ ΙϹΤ. Measured specimens give a diameter of 26.8–28 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). 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. 355, nr. 1253.
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 northern Bulgaria, in what was the province of Moesia inferior. The settlement reached its zenith during the reigns of Hadrian, the Antonines and the Severan dynasty. Lucius Septimius Severus served as Roman emperor from 193 to 211, having emerged as the final contender to seize imperial power in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors following the death of Pertinax.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26.8–28 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Nikopolis ad Istrum
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Septimius Severus
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate head of Septimius Severus, right.
- Reverse type
- Hades-Serapis seated left on throne, wearing kalathos, extending right hand, holding sceptre in left hand; in front, Cerberus.
- Obverse legend
- ΑV ΚΑΙ ΛΟV ϹΕΠΤ ϹΕVΗΡΟϹ ΠΕΡ
- Reverse legend
- VΠΑ ΠΟΛ ΑVϹΠΙΚΟϹ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤ ΠΡΟϹ ΙϹΤ
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/3947
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 3947
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- 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. 355, nr. 1253
Research required
- Weight not recorded in the source corpus
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution