Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Kings of Bithynia, Nikomedes I AR Tetradrachm. Nikomedia, circa 280-250 BC. Diademed head of Nikomedes right; countermarked with female head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΟΥ, Artemis-Bendis seated left on rock, holding two spears and heavy sword in scabbard, round shield with rings or rivets rests by her side; in background, stump of tree with spoils of war; monograms in inner left field and exergue. Unpublished variant, for general type cf. De Luynes 2421 (same obverse die) = Rec gén I.2, p. 218, 1 = Davis & Kraay, The Hellenistic Kingdoms, 190; London,BM = Mørkholm, EHC, 414 (same obverse die); HGC 7, 606 (all with different monograms and none with a countermark). 17.06g, 30mm, 12h.
Very Fine. A unique example of a very rare type.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s.
Nikomedes I was the second king of the independent kingdom of Bithynia, succeeding his father Zipoetes I in 278 BC. He commenced his reign by executing two of his brothers; the third was able to escape and raised a revolt, succeeding in making himself sovereign master of a considerable portion of the kingdom and calling himself Zipoetes II. At this time a significant Celtic migration was underway, and Byzantion was besieged; taking advantage of the situation, Nikomedes assisted the Celts in crossing the Bosporos, allowed them to settle in what became known as Galatia, and engaged them as mercenaries in his army. With this newfound strength Nikomedes put an end to his brother and reunited the kingdom. He is principally remembered for the foundation of Nikomedia, whose location was selected so judiciously that it prospered as one of the richest cities is Asia Minor for over six centuries. He is also believed to have been the Nikomedes who attempted to purchase Praxiteles' statue of Aphrodite from the city of Knidos by offering the remit the whole public debt of the city.
Very Fine. A unique example of a very rare type.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s.
Nikomedes I was the second king of the independent kingdom of Bithynia, succeeding his father Zipoetes I in 278 BC. He commenced his reign by executing two of his brothers; the third was able to escape and raised a revolt, succeeding in making himself sovereign master of a considerable portion of the kingdom and calling himself Zipoetes II. At this time a significant Celtic migration was underway, and Byzantion was besieged; taking advantage of the situation, Nikomedes assisted the Celts in crossing the Bosporos, allowed them to settle in what became known as Galatia, and engaged them as mercenaries in his army. With this newfound strength Nikomedes put an end to his brother and reunited the kingdom. He is principally remembered for the foundation of Nikomedia, whose location was selected so judiciously that it prospered as one of the richest cities is Asia Minor for over six centuries. He is also believed to have been the Nikomedes who attempted to purchase Praxiteles' statue of Aphrodite from the city of Knidos by offering the remit the whole public debt of the city.