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Orbis Collectibles

RIC IX Nicomedia 25A

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 378–AD 383

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

AE2 in bronze struck at Nicomedia under Theodosius I, AD 378–AD 383, catalogued as RIC IX Nicomedia 25A. Obverse: Bust of Gratian, helmeted (with pearl-diadem), draped and cuirassed, right, holding spear and shield in front.

Reverse: Emperor, head right, standing facing, on ship, raising right hand; Victory seated at helm. Obverse legend: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG. Reverse legend: GLORIA RO-MANORVM.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
4
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

Gratian ruled as emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 367 to 383, having succeeded his father Valentinian I. After the eastern emperor Valens was killed fighting the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople, Gratian appointed Theodosius I in 379 to take charge of the military crisis as eastern emperor. Between 378 and 383, this bronze issue depicting Gratian was struck under Theodosius I at the ancient city of Nicomedia, which had served as an eastern capital of the Roman Empire under Diocletian.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
AE2

Technical characteristics

Mint
Nicomedia
Issuing authority
Theodosius I

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Gratian, helmeted (with pearl-diadem), draped and cuirassed, right, holding spear and shield in front
Reverse type
Emperor, head right, standing facing, on ship, raising right hand; Victory seated at helm
Obverse legend
D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
GLORIA RO-MANORVM

Identification

How to identify
RIC separates types by mint and officina marks, obverse legend and bust form, and reverse legend and type; check the exergue and field marks against the RIC number before accepting a match.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.9.nic.25A
Catalogue reference
RIC IX Nicomedia 25A
Type corpus identifier
ric.9.nic.25A
Source note
The type record is Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), the American Numismatic Society's digital edition of Roman Imperial Coinage.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
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

Research required

  • Nominal weight not transcribed from a primary reference
  • Diameter and die axis not transcribed
  • Mint mark and officina detail not transcribed
  • No rights-cleared photograph identified yet
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