BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Commodus, 177-192. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16 mm, 2.92 g, 4 h), circa 180-192. Α Κ M AYP ΚO ΑΝΤΩΝ Laureate head of Commodus to right. Rev. NIKAIЄΩ-N Mask of a bearded satyr, lying on liknon. RG 272 corr. RPC IV.1 online 6024.6 (this coin). Very rare. Minor smoothing, otherwise, very fine.



A satyr was a male nature spirit in ancient Greece, typically depicted with horse-like ears and mane, always nude, and generally - though not on this coin - ithyphallic. Satyrs were often portrayed as drunken and lustful, frequently shown in art attempting - usually unsuccessfully - to assault nymphs and women. They are closely associated with Dionysos and his wild revelries. Notably, on this coin, the satyr’s head is depicted resting within a liknon, or cradle, a symbol commonly linked to the infant Dionysos in art and coinage. The city name Nikaia derives from the nymph Nikaia, whom Dionysos, according to myth, raped in a drunken frenzy and subsequently honored by naming the city after her.