Nicomedia Mint

Nicomedia (modern Izmit, Turkey) served as an eastern imperial mint from Diocletian's reform onward, with particular importance during the Tetrarchy when the city was Diocletian's own capital and eastern imperial residence. The mint mark, typically SMN or MN with officina letters, is common on late Roman bronze and gold coinage. Nicomedia's status as a capital city during the Tetrarchic period meant that it produced high-quality coinage including the large early folles of Diocletian and his colleagues, gold aurei, and the reformed argentei. After Constantine I moved the eastern capital to Constantinople, Nicomedia continued as a secondary eastern mint, producing bronze and occasional precious metal issues through the fifth century. Its geographic position between Constantinople and the eastern frontier made it a natural supply point for military coinage. The Tetrarchic coinage of Nicomedia is particularly collected — the large folles with their distinctive portrait styles and the full system of officina marks allow detailed die studies. For later periods, Nicomedia issues complement Constantinople and Cyzicus in providing a complete picture of eastern mint output. RIC volumes V through X cover the mint's production.