Mint of Nicomedia

c. 100 BC/BCE to 627 CE

Nicomedia was an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. In 286 Nicomedia became the eastern and most senior capital city of the Roman Empire (chosen by the emperor Diocletian who ruled in the east), a status which the city maintained during the Tetrarchy system (293–324). Nicomedia had minted coins from the remote times of the Kingdom of Bithynia. It was also the capital of Diocletian. It is clear that there was no better place to install the imperial mint that had to provide cash to the Diocese of Pontus. From 294 it coins gold, silver and especially bronze. The dawn of the Byzantine Empire will find the Nicomedia mint with a single operating officina. This one will continue strucking coins during the early Byzantine period, especially in the reign of Justinian I. Its final closure occurs in the year 627. The style of Nicomedia coins is characterized by a very marked oriental flavour, with a charming lack of realism. Although the manufacture quality of the coins is good, it is not so high the artistic level reached by its workers, especially in the tetrarchic age; later it improves considerably until reaching the level of the rest of the mints of the period.

Subject ID: 127231

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c. 100 BC/BCE to 627 CE

Nicomedia was an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. In 286 Nicomedia became the eastern and most senior capital city of the Roman Empire (chosen by the emperor Diocletian who ruled in the east), a status which the city maintained during the Tetrarchy system (293–324). Nicomedia had minted coins from the remote times of the Kingdom of Bithynia. It was also the capital of Diocletian. It is clear that there was no better place to install the imperial mint that had to provide cash to the Diocese of Pontus. From 294 it coins gold, silver and especially bronze. The dawn of the Byzantine Empire will find the Nicomedia mint with a single operating officina. This one will continue strucking coins during the early Byzantine period, especially in the reign of Justinian I. Its final closure occurs in the year 627. The style of Nicomedia coins is characterized by a very marked oriental flavour, with a charming lack of realism. Although the manufacture quality of the coins is good, it is not so high the artistic level reached by its workers, especially in the tetrarchic age; later it improves considerably until reaching the level of the rest of the mints of the period.

Subject ID: 127231

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