BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, 139-161. Triassarion (Bronze, 27 mm, 11.13 g, 1 h). M AYPHΛION ΟΥΗΡΟC KAICAP Bare head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. ΙΠΠΑΡΧΟϹ ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ The astronomer Hipparchus seated to left, wearing himation, resting his right hand on his knee and leaning left on cippus; to left, globe set on column. Leu Web Auction 33 (2025), 1666 var. (obverse legend). RPC IV.1 online 17402 var. (obverse legend). Extremely rare, the third known example. Minor traces of corrosion and with some breaks in patina on the edge, otherwise, about very fine.



The reverse of this coin, minted under Marcus Aurelius in Nicaea, celebrates the renowned astronomer and mathematician Hipparchus, one of antiquity's greatest scholars. A native of Nicaea, Hipparchus laid the foundations of scientific astronomy with his precise celestial observations and the creation of the first known star catalog. He is widely regarded as the father of trigonometry and discovered the precession of the Earth's axis - a groundbreaking achievement in celestial mechanics. With this coin, Nicaea proudly honors its most illustrious son, using his fame to distinguish itself in the competitive cultural self-promotion of Asia Minor's cities, surpassing regional rivals such as its long-standing adversary Nicomedia. By associating itself with figures of Hipparchus' stature, Nicaea aspired to join the league of great cultural metropoleis of the Greek world, such as Ephesus, Athens, Antioch, and Alexandria.