★ The Nicaeans [honor] the founder' ★

BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Valerian I, with Gallienus, 253-260. AE (Bronze, 26 mm, 10.92 g, 12 h). AYT OYAΛЄPIANOC ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I, on the left, facing radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus, on the right. Rev. TON OIKICT HN NIKAIЄIC Herakles standing front, head to left, holding the apples of the Hesperides in his right hand and club upright in his left; behind his legs, lion recumbent to left. BMC -. RG -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Glasgow -. SNG Leypold -. SNG von Aulock -, cf. 7080 (Herakles holding club in his right hand and with head of androcephalic bull instead of lion at his feet). Weiser -. Winterthur -. Unpublished and unique, a very interesting issue. Patina stripped, otherwise, very fine.

The reverse of this hitherto unpublished issue shows Herakles, one of the several mythological founders of Nicaea, with the accompanying legend translating as 'The Nicaeans [honor] the founder'.