BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Geta, as Caesar, 198-209. Diassarion (Bronze, 26 mm, 11.00 g, 7 h), circa 198-199. •Λ•CЄΠTIM•ΓЄTAC•KAI Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to right. Rev. NIKAI[EΩN] Dionysos standing front, head to right, his right arm over his head, lifting with his left hand right arm of his child Satyros dancing to left at his side; on the left, panther standing left, head to right, and vine. RG 508. RPC V.2 online ID 93037 (this coin illustrated). Extremely rare and with a very interesting reverse type. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, fine.



The reverse of this remarkable coin depicts the god Dionysos playing with his son Satyros, whom he holds gently by the arm. Satyros was born of the nymph Nikaia, and the scene is completed by a panther - Dionysos' ever-present companion - and a grapevine, unmistakable symbols of his dominion over wine and ecstatic revelry.

Nikaia was a huntress, a devotee of Artemis, and the daughter of the river-god Sangarios and the mother-goddess Kybele. She was associated either with the springs of Nikaia or with the nearby Lake Askanios. According to myth, Eros was enraged when Nikaia killed Hymnos, a young man struck by one of Eros' arrows who had fallen hopelessly in love with her. Rejected and despairing, Hymnos begged Nikaia to shoot him through the heart, and she obliged. In revenge, Eros struck Dionysos with an arrow, causing him to fall passionately in love with Nikaia.

Dionysos, determined to possess her, laced a spring she frequented with wine. When she drank from it, she became intoxicated, fell asleep, and Dionysos raped and impregnated her. Upon realizing what had happened, Nikaia initially resolved to take her own life. However, after giving birth to their daughter Telete, she abandoned her life as a huntress and embraced motherhood. Eventually, she reconciled with Dionysos and bore him additional children, including Satyros, depicted on this coin.

In honor of Nikaia, Dionysos later named the city that arose on the shores of Lake Askanios after her.