BITHYNIA. Nikomedia. C. Papirius Carbo, procurator, 61/0-59/8 BC. AE (Bronze, 25 mm, 9.25 g, 12 h). NIKOMHΔΕΩN Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. EΠI ΓAIO[Y] - ΠΑΠIPOY / KAPBΩNO[Σ] // PΩMA Roma seated left on pile of arms, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter in her left; in field to left, monogram. HGC 7, 596. RG 1. SNG von Aulock 736. Stumpf 120. Minor roughness, otherwise, very fine.


Caius Papirius Carbo was the scion of a distinguished plebeian family which counted several consuls and praetors among its ranks. Our Papirius Carbo first came to the fore after he successfully brought M. Aurelius Cotta to trial in 67 BC for his brutality against Heraclea in Bithynia, which had reluctantly supported Mithridates VII during the Third Mithridatic War. As a reward, Carbo was granted the governorship of Bithynia, although in a twist of irony, upon returning to Rome, he was dragged to court himself by Cotta's son on charges of corruption during his term in the East. Little is known of what became of Carbo afterwards, but during his tenure, a prodigious amount of coins were struck by several Bithynian cities in his name, including the present piece.