Nikaia (AD 81-96) AE 26 - Domitian

Domitian, 81-96 AD. AE26 (8.54g). AVT ΔOMITIANOV KAICAP CEBA ΓEP, laureate bust right / TΩN KTICTH NEIKAIEIC ΠPΩTOI THC EΠAPX, laureate bearded head of Herakles left. Rare, VF, deep green patina. Hoeft coll.

The metropolis of Bithynia was in fact Nicomedia, but Nicaea raises a claim upon that title as shown by a coin issued under Domitian with the legend "the Nikaians, the first of the eparchias." From this claim emerged a legal dispute which was finally decided by Valens - Nicaea and Nicomedia both were allowed to call themselves the first city of Bithynia, but only Nicomedia was the metropolis. But this vain title was useless: by the new arrangement of the provinces, Chalcedon became the metropolis of the anterior Pontus. It's known from a discourse from Dion of Prusa (who lived in the time of Domitian) in which he challenged the Nicomedians to hold peace with the Nicaeans.