Roman Coins of Nisibis—a mini-theme.
Nisibis was in Mesopotamia ("The land between the waters") and one of the easternmost cities to issue Roman provincial coins. It figures in history books as a Roman city often under siege by the Persians (Parthians before AD 224 and Sasanians after 224). Its location is circled in red on the map (The yellow region is what drains into the Euphrates and Tigris). When under Roman control Nisibis was the capitol of Roman Mesopotamia. It is far to the east of the Euphrates river which was sometimes a boundary of the Roman Empire. The Tigris river is about 60 miles further east. Nisibis is now named Nusaybin in modern Turkey, on its border with modern Syria. Some of its history is below. References are also below.
The most common coins of Nisibis are from the family of Philip (244-249)--either Philip, his wife Otacilia Severa, or their son Philip II. Getting one of each would make an interesting mini-theme collection.
What's new? 2023, August 22: A better coin of Otacilia Severa. RPC temporary ID numbers.
2022, Nov. 27: More about the history of Gordian III and Philip in the east and a coin of Shapur I, Sasanian King against whom they fought.
Otacilia Severa, wife of Philip I (Marcus Julius Philippus), who reigned 244-249.
Roman provincial Æ 24.5 mm, 11.18 g.
Mesopotamia, Nisibis, AD 244-249.
Obv: MAP ΩTAKIΛ CЄOYHPAN CЄB,
(Marcia Otacillia Severa Sebasta)
diademed and draped bust right, on crescent.
Rev: IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT,
(Julia Septimia Colonia Nisibis Metropolis)
[This "Julia" is a family name for Philip.]
Tetrastyle temple containing statue of city goddess seated facing; above her head, ram (Aries) leaping right, head turned back; below, river god Mygdonius swimming right.
References: Sear Greek Imperial Coins 4065. BMC 27. SNG Copenhagen 244. RPC VIII "unassigned; ID 2575."
Emperors from Macrinus to Gordian III also issued coins at Nisibis, but they are scarcer. Here is a large coin of Gordian III and Tranquillina with a design also issued for Singara. (For Singara the reverse legend has "CINΓAPA" instead of "ΝƐϹΙΒΙ".) It is likely coins of Singara and Nisibis were struck at the same mint.
Gordian III (238-244) and Tranquillina
32 mm.
The obverse legend begins at 8:30:
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟΝ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ ϹƐΒ
Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus (et) Tranquillina Augusta
ϹƐΠ ΚΟΛΟΝ ΝƐϹΙΒΙ ΜΗΤ
Septimia Colonia Nisibis Metropolis
City goddess seated left on rocks, holding ears of grain, ram left above, river god (Mygdonius) swimming left below.
References.
Coin sources: BMC Greek, Mesopotamia. 1988. Of course, some coins of Nisibis are in SNGs (Danish, 12 pieces in volume VII. Righetti, 8 pieces. Lewis, 0 pieces. Hunterian, 9 pieces), but SNGs are all without commentary.
Butcher, Kevin. Roman Provincial Coins. A wonderful thin book which I love, but it has very little about Nisibis (on page 104).
Roman Provincial Coinage on-line: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?volume_id=15&number=&city_id=667®ion_id=&province_id=&subprovince_id=&reign_id=&obverse_inscription_simplified=&reverse_inscription_simplified=&obverse_design=&reverse_design=&metal_id=&weight_min=&weight_max=&diameter_min=&diameter_max=&format=
Books.
Dodgeon, Michael and Samuel Lieu, editors. The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars, AD 226-363, A Documentary History. 1191. 431 page paperback of translated sources and commentary. Arranged chronologically. Very interesting. Read what ancient authors said about the conflicts, and learn when they wrote and what we now think about what they wrote. This book has many more mentions of Nisibis than the other books below.
The next three are all very good (and large) books on the eastern regions of the Roman empire, but Nisibis is treated on very few pages.
Ball, Warwick. Rome in the East. 2001
Butcher, Kevin. Roman Syria and the Near East. 2003
Millar, Fergus. The Roman Near East: 31 BC - AD 337. 1993:
Internet.
Wikipedia pages:
Nusayban https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nusaybin
Roman-Persian Wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Persian_Wars
The Battle of Nisibis (217) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nisibis_(217)
The siege of Nisibis (252) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Nisibis_(252)
Other web pages:
Strange War Tactics—The Sieges of Nisibis (337-350) https://thehistorianshut.com/2016/11/19/strange-war-tactics-the-sieges-of-nisibis-337-350-ce/