Nemausus
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Nemausus, a celebrated city in Gallia Narbonensis so called from its founder of that during the reign of Augustus. It is now called Nismes, in Languedoc (France). A large number of its coins, gold, silver and brass, have been found at various times.
The autonomous medals
of this colony, in second and third brass, have the heard of Mars or
of Rome for their type, and are inscribed NEM. COL., Nemausus Colonia, within a crown of laurel.
The imperial medals struck at Nismes are of middle brass, and present on their obverse the heads of Augustus and Agrippa placed back to back, with the inscription IMP DIVI F, Imperator Divi Filius; and, on the obverse a crocodile attached by a chain to a palm-tree, with the conquest of Egypt, and its reduction into the form of a province.
Strabo speaks of privileges, among the rest that of the jus Latii; and an ancient inscription found at Nismes calls it COLonia AVGusta. Thus derived and constituted the Nemausenses invariably struck the associated effigies of Agrippa with Augustus, and the image of the crocodile tied to a palm tree, on their coins as pointing to the origin and date of their colonial foundation. After Mark Antony's overthrow, a great many veterans from various Legions were as a matter of necessity, sent to defend different colonies, partly in Italy, partly in other provinces. And those who where passed over to Nismes, having perhaps been themselves present in the Alexandrine war, where pleased to commemorate that occurrence by stamping the coins also that symbol of vanquished Egypt which has just been described.
Nemausus Coins of Augustus and Agrippa - Type Identifier
c. 27 B.C.
RIC I 154 (S), RPC Online I 522, SNG Tübingen 142, SNG Cop -. Dupondius, c. 17.5g (about 5 grams heavier than the later issues), scarce.
Image courtesy of CNG.
16 - 15 B.C., perhaps struck as late as 10 B.C.
RIC I 155, RPC Online I 523, SNG Tübingen 143, SNG Cop 697. Augustus' head bare, no P - P.
RP60688. Bronze dupondius, SNG Cop 698 (same c/m),
RIC I 155, RPC Online I 523, SRCV I 1729; c/m: Martini Locarno 10; Howgego -; Pangerl -, F, weight 11.595g, maximum diameter 27.2mm, die axis 315
o, Nemausus (Nimes, France) mint, 16 - 15 B.C., perhaps as late as 10 B.C.; obverse IMP DIVI F, back to back heads of Augustus and Agrippa,
Augustus bare head right, Agrippa left wearing a rostral crown, hook shaped punch, c/m: D palm D in circular incuse; reverse COL NEM, crocodile right chained to a palm, wreath with long ties above, two palm fronds below.
SNG Cop 694 & 698. Countermark: D - D divided by palm frond in a round punch
SNG Cop 695, SNG Tubingen 150. Countermark: IM in a rectangular punch
SNG Cop 696. Countermark: LPV
SNG Cop 697. No countermark
RIC I 156 (R), RPC Online I 523. Same as RIC I 155 but
COL - NIM, rare.
Image courtesy of CNG. RIC I 157 (R), RPC Online I 523. Same as RIC I 155 but
NE ligate in NEM, rare.
RP46954. Bronze dupondius, RIC I 157, RPC Online I 523, SNG Cop 697, SNG Tübingen 142, SRCV I 1729, aVF, weight 12.023g, maximum diameter 27.2mm, die axis 180
o, Gaul, Nemausus (Nimes, France) mint, 16 - 15 B.C., perhaps as late as 10 B.C.; obverse back to back heads of Agrippa and Augustus, Agrippa (on left) facing left wearing a rostral crown,
Augustus bare head right, IMP above, DIVI F below; reverse crocodile right chained to a palm, wreath with long ties over COL - NEM (
NE ligate) above crocodile divided by palm, two palm fronds below crocodile;
rare variant.
9/8 - 3 B.C.
RIC I 158, RPC Online I 524, SNG Cop 699, SNG Tübingen 152. Augustus head wearing oak wreath, no P - P.
SH92631. Bronze dupondius, RIC I 158, RPC Online I 524, SNG Cop 699, SNG Tübingen 152, SRCV I 1730, aVF, well centered, green patina, high points flatly struck, flan adjustment marks, scattered porosity, tiny edge cracks, weight 11.477g, maximum diameter 27.0mm, die axis 0
o, Colonia Augusta Nemausus (Nimes, France) mint, 9/8 - 3 B.C.; obverse back to back heads of Augustus and Agrippa, Agrippa (on left) head left wearing a rostral crown and laurel wreath,
Augustus head right wearing oak wreath, IMP above, DIVI F below; reverse Crocodile right chained to palm tree, wreath with long ties over COL - NEM above crocodile divided by palm, two palms fronds below crocodile; from the Errett Bishop Collection.
c. 10 - 14 A.D.
Final revival of the type with the addition of P P, for Pater Patri, Father of the Country, on the obverse. Augustus was honored with this title in 2 B.C.
RIC I 159, RPC Online I 525, SNG Cop 700, SNG Tübingen 160. Augustus laureate, P - P under chins. 
RP08467. Bronze dupondius,
RIC I 159, RPC Online I 525, SNG Cop 700, SNG Tüb 160, SRCV I 1731, VF, weight 12.50g, maximum diameter 25.4mm, die axis 45
o, Colonia Augusta Nemausus (Nimes, France) mint, c. 10 - 14 A.D.; obverse back to back heads of Agrippa and Augustus, Agrippa (on left) facing left wearing a rostral crown, Augustus laureate head right, IMP above,
P - P flanking below chins, DIVI F below; reverse crocodile right chained to a palm, wreath with long ties over COL - NEM across field above crocodile divided by palm, two palm fronds below crocodile.
RIC I 160, RPC Online I 525. Same as RIC I 159 but vertical palm frond has very long nearly vertical leaves.
Image courtesy of Hess-Divo AG.
RIC I 161 (S), RPC Online I 525. Same as RIC I 159 but NE ligate in NEM, scarce.
RP97570. Bronze dupondius, RIC I 161 (S), RPC Online I 525, SNG Cop 700, SNG Tüb 160, SRCV I 1731, VF, well centered on a tight flan, excellent portraits, pitting and porosity, Colonia Augusta Nemausus (Nimes, France) mint, weight 12.380g, maximum diameter 26.8mm, die axis 270o, c. 10 - 14 A.D.; obverse back to back heads of Agrippa and Augustus, Agrippa (on left) facing left wearing a rostral crown, Augustus laureate head right, IMP above, P - P flanking below chins, DIVI F below; reverse crocodile right chained to a palm, wreath with long ties over COL - NEM (NE ligate) across field above crocodile divided by palm, two palm fronds below crocodile, scarce variant.
