Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum
138-161 CE
Æ 21mm 4.94 gm, 7h
Obv: ΑVΤ ΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟС, Bare head right
Rev: ΝΕΙΚΟΠΟΛITΩΝ, Apollo Sauroktonos standing right, left hand on tree stump and holding arrow in right hand, preparing to stab lizard on tree to right
Not in RPC: RPC 4, 4328 (temporary) (var.- reverse legend); AMNG I__; SNG Copenhagen__; Varbanov I (E), 2116, “Unpublished” (Private collection); Rarity 7. HrHJ (2018) 8.6.7.3
Nicopolis ad Istrum is one of the few cities whose founding is documented on an arch, with it being mentioned on the Arch of Trajan.
Trajan gave the city significant funds, for he wished it to be a major metropolis, and thus it appears they went on a shopping spree for copies of sculptures. As far as I can tell, no other ancient city depicted as many ancient sculptures as Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Hadrian and Antoninus Pius added to the city significantly, but in 170 CE it was destroyed by the Costoboci. They recovered enough though for Septimius Severus to thank them for celebrating a festival to honor their victory over the Parthians and for sending money.
Later, in 211 CE, Caracalla visited the city and must have had a bad meal, because he stripped it of a title and clearly was displeased with them. They held games in his honor and that appears to have appeased him enough, for it continued to grow under later emperors.
In the 5th century CE it was destroyed by Huns and soon after abandoned.
Moesia, Nicopolis ad Istrum
217–218 CE
Æ 27mm, 12.51 gm, 6h
Obv: Laur. bust r.
Rev. Herakles standing r., right hand behind his back, holding club set on rock, lion skin draped over club.
Varbanov 3457. HrHJ (2015) 8.23.14.3
Flavius Ulpianus legate
Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum
193-211 CE
Æ 28mm, 10.58 gm, 2h
Obv: AYT Λ CΕΠΤΙ CEYHPOC Π, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: V ΦΛ OVΛΠΙΑN ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙ ΠΡΟC I, Dionysos standing left, holding kantharos pouring wine in r. hand and ribboned thyrsos in left hand. AMNG 1333, except this example spells the city name as ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙ instead of ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛ.
Varbanov__; Hristova/Hoeft/Jekov (20115) 8.14.8.9 (same die, with same die break on obv.)
Sabinius Modestus, consular legate
Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum
238-244 CE
Æ 28mm, 13.06 gm, 6h
Obv: Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Hermes standing left, foot on rock (helmet?), holding winged caduceus and purse.
Varbanov 4203. HrHJ (2018) 8.36.10.2
Nicopolis ad Istrum is founded by Trajan.
Nicopolis ad Istrum is sacked by the Costoboci.
Septimius Severus and Caracalla thank Nicopolis ad Istrum for celebrating a festival and sending money.
Caracalla has an unpleasant experience in Nicopolis ad Istrum and strips its title of Ulpia.
June
Trajan Decius and Herennius Etruscus defeat a Gothic army at the Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Constantine I funds major changes to the agora at Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Nicopolis ad Istrum is destroyed by the Huns under Attila.