Æ31 - Nikias ΚΩΙΩΝ ΕΙΡΗΝΑΙΟΣ 44 BC - 36 BC
| Bronze | 21.46 g | 31 mm |
| Issuer | Cos (Conventus of Halicarnassus) |
|---|---|
| Period | Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 44 BC - 36 BC |
| Currency | Denarius (49 BC to AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 21.46 g |
| Diameter | 31 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#414103 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Laureate head of Asclepius, right.
Script: Greek
Lettering: ΚΩΙΩΝ ΕΙΡΗΝΑΙΟΣ
Comment
Magistrate of Eirenaios.
Nicias was a tyrant on Kos who apparently sided with Marcus Antonius in the civil war. His origins are unclear, but inscriptions refer to him as the "son of Damos (Demos)", i.e. the personified - and also worshipped as a god - people. The hairband, which refers to his divinity, is also to be understood in this sense. In Augustan times, the tomb of Nicias was destroyed and his mortal remains desecrated. On Nicias and the relationship between Kos and Rome, see: Buraselis, Kostas, Kos between Hellenism and Rome. Studies on the political, institutional and social history of Kos from ca. the Middle Second Century B.C. until late Antiquity, Philadelphia 2000, p. 25 ff.
Interesting fact
The coin features a portrait of Nikias, who was a prominent citizen of Cos and a supporter of the Roman general Mark Antony. The coin was minted during a time of political turmoil in the Roman Empire, and its design reflects the complex political allegiances of the period. Despite being a small island in the Aegean, Cos played a significant role in the political and economic affairs of the empire during this time.