Trajan, Nicopolis ad Lycum Mint, 113/4 AD - AE Dupondius - Armenia seated

ANRO-867; Kovacs-303; RPC-III-2945

Armenia Minor, Nicopolis ad Lycum Mint
Trajan 98-117 AD, Yr. 43 113/4 AD

AE Sestertius / Orichalcum

Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΝЄΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ΓЄΡΜ ΔΑΚ ΤΟ ΖΙ; laureate head of Trajan, right, with drapery on left shoulder.
Laureate head of Trajan to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder.
Reverse: ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΑΡΜΕΝΙΑϹ ΕΤΟΥ ΜΓ; Armenia seated left on shields, head resting on right hand, left hand across right knee; in front of her, trophy with round shield at foot.

Nicopolis ad Lycum, located in historical Armenia Minor (today’s Yeşilyayla, Turkey), was founded by Pompey the Great around 63 BC to commemorate his victory over Mithridates VI of Pontus. Strategically positioned along the Lycus River, the city became an important administrative and cultural center under Roman rule. It played a significant role in Roman-Armenian interactions, notably serving as a regional mint producing coins depicting Roman emperors, deities, and local iconography.