1. Introduction

The mint of Nikomedia was founded by Anastasios I (491-518), in order to support the mint of Constantinople during the monetary reform of 498. Its activity was confined to issues of copper coins and continued its production, with interruptions, until 629/30, although after the first years of Herakleios’ reign (610-641) the mint did not operate normally. Its production is closely connected with that of its neighboring mint of Kyzikos, whereas both of them generally followed the prototypes of capital’s mint.

2. Production

The mint of Nikomedia was formed during the entire period of its activity by two officina, which produced mainly folles and in a lesser degree 20 nummi, as well as lesser denominations (decanummia, pentanummia, nummus), even 30 nummi under Tiberius II (578-582) and Phokas (602-610).¹ The usual mint-mark was ΝΙΚΟ, but other variations were used as well (e.g. ΝΙΚΜ, NIKOMI, ΝΙC and others).²

Although, as it was mentioned before, the two mints of Propontis, Nikomedia and Kyzikos, were closely connected between each other, the production of the first one of them was clearly larger. Based on the hoards of Balkan Peninsula and of Asia Minor from the period 491-713 it is realized that the relation between the two mints as far as their production is concerned was at least two to one. This seems to be associated with the great military significance of the dioceses of Pontos, which was supplied by the mint of Nikomedia.³

2.1. Issues

2.1.1. Anastasios I (491-518)

The mint of Nikomedia was the only mint besides the Constantinopolitan mint that issued coins during the period 498-512, namely before the rise of weights of the coins in 512. Initially the products of its two officinae were discerned with subsidiary marks (e.g. asterisk), soon after 512, however, the normal officina marks were introduced – Α and Β respectively. Besides the folles and 20 nummi the mint issued as well decanummia, pentanummia and nummus, but given their rarity their production must have been of a limited scale.⁴

2.1.2. Justin I (512-527)

Under Justin I the mint of Nikomedia issued folles, 20 nummi, decanummia and pentanummia, although the last two denominations only towards the end of his reign.⁵

As far as the folles are concerned, the existence of their unofficial imitations makes their identification problematic.⁶ In other occasions the iconographic originality affirms their issue at an imperial mint; it raises, however, questions regarding their symbolism. Quite characteristic is the example of folles and 20 nummi, which above the emperor’s diadem on the obverse depict the hand of God (manus Dei) or of the folles which in the same place carry two flying Nikes (or angels) holding a wreath (fig. 1).⁷

Towards the end of Justin’s reign, at Nikomedia as well as at Kyzikos, appear folles bearing the year of the indiction. Those of Nikomedia are highly rare and are dated only to the fourth year of the indiction (525/6) (fig. 2). It is not clear if it is about experimental issues or if they were designed for some specific reason.⁸

During the short period of co-reign between Justin I and Justinian I (527) folles were issued portraying the bust of Justin, but mentioning the co-emperor in the flanking inscription.⁹

2.1.3. Justinian I (527-565)

Under Justinian I the whole series of denominations of copper coinage were issued, except the one of nummi.¹⁰ Two periods are discerned, as in all the other mints as well: before and after 538/9, the starting year for the issues dated according to the year of reign.¹¹ There is evidence that during the first as well as the second period the minting of every denomination was not uninterrupted. It is possible that even the issues of folles and 20 nummi were interrupted for some time between 527 and 538, a period when the mint of Kyzikos as well ceased to operate.¹² Nikomedia played, however, an important role in the reform of 538/9 with the production of large amounts of folles.¹³

2.1.4. Justin II (565-578) – Phokas (602-610)

During the first year of Justin II’s reign the mint of Nikomedia, as well as those of Constantinople and Kyzikos, struck only decanummia. From the second year onwards, however, the mint issued other denominations as well (from folles to pentanummia). The two largest ones bore on the obverse the imperial couple enthroned (fig. 3), while decanummia and pentanummia were adorned, because of their size, only with the emperor’s portrait.¹⁴

Tiberius II (578-582) issued at Nikomedia the same series of denominations with his predecessor, to which he added 30 nummi as well, while he replaced the Greek numbers (Μ, Κ, Ι, Ε) of the value marks with Latin ones following exactly the prototype of the Constantinopolitan issues. For that reason the attributing of those decanummia and the pentanummia that do not carry mint-marks, to the three central mints (Constantinople, Nikomedia, Kyzikos) is quite difficult.¹⁵

Under Maurice (582-602) the issue of the same denominations went on –except of the 30 nummi – based on the iconographic prototypes of Constantinople which are followed by the mint of Nikomedia with a slight delay.¹⁶ Phokas, finally, restored issues of 30 nummi according to the example of Tiberius II.¹⁷

2.1.5. Herakleios (610-641)

The reign of Herakleios marked the end of minting at Nikomedia – as well as in the mints of Kyzikos and Thessalonica.¹⁸ During the first years of his reign the mint of Nikomedia issued large amounts of folles, as well as 20 nummi and decanummia. The Persian occupation of Asia Minor interrupted the issues in 617/8. The mint resumed its operation during the period of 626-629/30 with issues of folles and 20 nummi; nevertheless, it finally ended its minting activity in 629/30.¹⁹