Asia Minor Coins - Photo Gallery

Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Asia Minor

Coin search results - "silver"
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm878 viewsPolemo II, with Tryphanae, ca 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.11g, 2h). Diademed head of Polemo right / Legend in four lines within diadem. Good Fine, toned.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm749 viewsPolemo II, with Tryphanae, ca 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (19mm, 3.33g, 12h). Struck ca 50s AD. Diademed bust of Polemo right / BACI/ΛICCHC/ TPYΦAI/NHC in four lines; all within diadem with ties at bottom. Good Fine, toned, several cuts on edge. Rare.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY141241 viewsPolemo II, with Agrippina Junior(?), 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (3.59g, 1h). Dated RY 14 (51/2 AD). Diademed head of Polemo right / Diademed and draped bust of Agrippina Junior right; IΔ (date) to right. VF, toned, minor hairline flan crack, scratch under tone on reverse. Very rare.

Burnett in RPC I identified the female on these drachms as Antonia Tryphonaea, mother of Polemo II, based on the portrait’s similarity to silver and bronze issues which also bear her name. These drachms, however, have no such identifying legend and from the known regnal dates, were struck during the period AD 49-54. Stylistically, they fit within the series bearing clearly identifiable portraits of Claudius and Nero, as well as two examples, dated AD 55/6 and AD 56/7, with a portrait which Burnett tentatively identified as that of Britannicus. As Polemo owed his installation as king to Agrippina Junior’s brother, Caligula, it is quite possible that Claudius’ marriage to his benefactor’s sister in AD 49 prompted him to begin striking these coins which continued, as evidenced by the regnal dates, during her period of influence at court.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY15744 viewsPolemo II, 38/9-64/5 AD, with Claudius. AR Drachm (3.17g). Dated 52/3 AD. BACIΛΕωC ΠΟΛΕΜωΝΟC, diademed head of Polemo II right / Laureate head of Claudius right, ETOYC behind, IE before. Some minor porosity, aEF.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY15813 viewsPolemo II, with Claudius, 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (3.41g). Dated RY 15 (52/3 AD). ETOYC / IE, laureate head of Claudius right / ΒΑC/ΙΛΕΩC / ΠΟΛΕΜ/ΩΝΟC in four lines within tied diadem. Good VF, toned. Rare.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY18828 viewsPolemo II, with Nero, 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (17mm, 3.91g, 6h). Dated RY 18 of Polemo II (55/6 AD). Diademed head of Polemo right / Laureate head of Nero right; ЄTOYC IH (date) in fields. EF.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY19556 viewsPolemo II, 38-63 AD. AR Drachm (3.38g), dated year 19 (56/7 AD). Diademed head of Polemo / ΕΤΟΥC ΙΘ, laureate head of Nero. Toned VF.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY19659 viewsPolemo II, 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (17.5mm, 3.15g, 3h). Dated RY 19 (56/7 AD). BACIΛEWC ΠOΛEMWNOC, diademed head of Polemo right / ΕΤΟΥC ΙΘ, laureate head of Nero right. gVF.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY19764 viewsPolemo II, with Nero, 38-64 AD. AR Drachm (19mm, 3.66g, 6h). Dated RY 19 (56/7 AD). Diademed head of Polemo II right / Laureate head of Nero right. VF, minor scratches under tone. Brace coll.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY20545 viewsPolemo II, with Nero, 37/8-41 AD. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.51g, 6h). Year 20 (57/8 AD). [B]ACIΛEWC ΠOΛEMWNOC, diademed head of Polemo right / ETOYC K, laureate head of Nero right; date in legend. Toned VF, minor porosity, old scrape on Nero's cheek.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY20635 viewsPolemo II, with Nero. 37/8-41 AD. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.66g, 6h). Dated RY 20 (57/8 AD). Diademed head of Polemo right / Laureate head of Nero right; date in legend. VF.
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(AD 38-64) Polemo II - Drachm RY20842 viewsPolemo II, with Nero, 54-68 AD. AR Drachm (3.55g, 6h). Uncertain mint in Pontus. Dated RY 20 (57/8 AD). BACILEwC POLEMwNOC, diademed head of Polemo right / ETOYC K, laureate head of Nero right. VF, toned, slight die shift on reverse. Strickhausen coll.
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(BC 8-AD 23) Pythodoris - Drachm724 viewsPythodoris, 8 BC-22/23 AD. AR Drachm (3,56g, 19mm). Uncertain mint. Dated CY 60 (unknown era). Laureate head of Augustus right / BAΣIΛIΣΣA ΠYΘOΔΩPIΣ ETOYΣ Ξ, Capricorn right. Minor scratches on obverse, minor corrosion. Very rare. VF.
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(BC 36-AD 17) Archelaos - Drachm1241 viewsArchelaos Philopatris Ktistes, 36 BC-17 AD. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.72g, 1h). Dated RY 42 (AD 5/6). Diademed head right; fillet border / Club; M-B (date) across field. Good VF, lightly toned. Harlick Coll., purchased in 2006 from F. Kovacs. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica P (5/2005), lot 1581.
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(BC 52-42) Ariobarzanes III - Drachm1419 viewsAriobarzanes III, Eusebes Philoromaios, 52-42 BC. AR Drachm (4.18g). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡZΑΝΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜ, Athena holding Nike standing left, monogram to right, star and crescent to left. About EF.
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(BC 52-42) Ariobarzanes III - Drachm1148 viewsAriobarzanes III Eusebes Philoromaios, 52-42 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 3.80g). Dated RY 9 (43 BC). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; star in crescent to inner left, monogram to inner right, Θ (date) in exergue. VF.
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(BC 52-42) Ariobarzanes III - Drachm1009 viewsAriobarzanes III Eusebes Philoromaios, 52-42 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.55g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (41 BC). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; to left, star above crescent; monogram to right. Good VF, lightly toned. N. Frank Coll.; ex CNG 55 (9/2000), lot 645.

Ariobarzanes was a grandson of Mithradates VI of Pontos and adopted the Pontic royal symbol of the star above crescent for his coins.
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(BC 63-52) Ariobarzanes II - Drachm1269 viewsAriobarzanes II Philopator, 63-52 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.80g, 12h). Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 8 (55 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡZΑΝΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΥ, Athena Nikephoros standing left; H (date) in exergue. Good VF, iridescent toning. Rare in this condition.

Coins of Ariobarzanes II are rare in the Cappadocian series, and are typically found poorly struck or struck on poor metal. The engraving also usually appears to have been done in haste, perhaps reflecting his issues were struck in a time of expediency. His father’s coinage (Ariobarzanes I) was plentiful, and are the most common Cappadocian coins found today. It is possible that so much was in circulation during his son’s reign that Ariobarzanes II’s issues were relatively small.
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(BC 94-74) Nikomedes IV - Tetradrachm1654 viewsNikomedes IV, 94-74 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.87g), dated year 214 (= 85/84 BC). Diademed head right / Zeus standing left with scepter, crowing name of king, in field, eagle on thunderbolt. gVF.
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(BC 94-74) Nikomedes IV - Tetradrachm1029 viewsNikomedes IV, ca 94-74 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.64g), dated BE 223 (75/4 BC). Diademed head of Nikomedes right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath and sceptre; eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and ΓΚΣ (date) to left. Good VF, toned, spots of die rust on obverse. Drewry Coll.; ex Frank Kovacs Sale XII (11/1995), lot 81.
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(BC 94-74) Nikomedes IV - Tetradrachm1134 viewsNikomedes IV, ca 94-74 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.37g, 12h), dated BE 208 (90/89 BC). Diademed head of Nikomedes right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath and sceptre; eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and HΣ (date) to left. Good VF,
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(BC 96-63) Ariobarzanes I - Drachm1484 viewsAriobarzanes I, Philoromaios, 96-63 BC. AR Drachm (4.05g, 12h), dated year 2 (95/94 BC). Diadememed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡZΑΝΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ, Athena standing left, holding Nike, shield and spear, Θ - Ε flanking her, Β (date) in exergue. High relief, lightly toned, EF. Ex Bank Leu AG, Auc. 33 (5/1983, Zurich), lot 408.
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(BC 96-63) Ariobarzanes I - Drachm1155 viewsAriobarzanes I Philoromaios, ca 96-63 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.09g), dated RY 2 (94/3 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on shield set on ground, spear leaning against arm; T-Λ across field, B (date) in exergue. VF, iridescent toning, light scratch. Strickhausen Coll.
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(BC 96-63) Ariobarzanes I - Drachm1179 viewsAriobarzanes I Philoromaios, 96-63 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.19g, 1h). Dated RY 14 (83/2 BC). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left, holding spear and round shield, both set on ground; monogram to inner left, EP to inner right; IΔ (date) in exergue. Good VF, toned.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Drachm1197 views(4.06g, 12h). Dated Year 4 (98/97 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing half-left, holding Nike in right hand, shield and spear in left; Δ (date) in exergue. Lightly toned, EF. Ex Sternberg Auc. 17 (5/1986, Zurich), lot 182.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Drachm1010 viewsAriarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, ca 100-85 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.07g), dated RY 4 (97/6 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on shield set on ground, spear leaning against arm; monogram in inner left field, D (date) in exergue. Good VF, toned. Strickhausen Coll.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Drachm858 viewsAriarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, ca 100-85 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.01g), dated RY 5 (96/5 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on shield set on ground, spear leaning against arm; monogram in inner left field, E (date) in exergue. Good VF, lightly toned. Excellent style for issue. Strickhausen Coll.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Drachm802 viewsAriarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, ca 100-85 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.05g), dated RY 5 (96/5 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on shield set on ground, spear leaning against arm; monogram in inner left field, E (date) in exergue. VF, lightly toned, light scratches. Strickhausen Coll.; Ex CNG XXVII (9/1993), lot 698; Brauer Coll., Numismatic Fine Arts (10/1988), lot 368.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Tetradrachm1055 viewsAriarathes IX, Eusebes Philopator, 101-87 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.24g). Dated Year 2 (100/99 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear, and shield; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, B (date) in exergue. Good VF, toned, small area of flatness on the obverse. Very rare. Drewry Coll.; ex CNG 54 (6/2000), lot 760.
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Tetradrachm1018 viewsAriarathes IX, Eusebes Philopator, 101-87 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.21g, 1h). Mint A (Eusebia-Mazaka [Caesarea]). Dated RY 2 (100/99 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing half-left, holding Nike in right hand, shield and spear in left; B (date) in exergue. Good VF, toned. Drewry Coll. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXV (11/1990), lot 182; von Aulock Collection, 6300; Abruzzi 1954 Hoard (IGCH 2056).
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(BC 101-87) Ariarathes IX - Tetradrachm1678 viewsAriarathes IX, 101-87 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.62g). Year 213 (85/84 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ above, ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ below, Pegasos grazing left; star and crescent to left, monogram to right; all within a border of cable and grape leaves. EF. Rare, only 14 specimens of 2 die combinations listed by De Callatay, 7 of which are in permanent museum collections.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Drachm1019 viewsAriarathes VII, 116-101 BC. AR Drachm (4.04g). Eusebeia Tyana mint, dated year 9 (108/7 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand, shield and spear in left; OM monogram to left, Λ to right, Θ (date) in exergue. Good VF.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Drachm783 viewsAriarathes VII, 116-101 BC. AR Drachm (4.04g). Eusebeia Tyana mint, dated year 8 (109/8 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand, shield and spear in left; monogram to left, H (date) in exergue. VF.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Drachm935 viewsAriarathes VII Philometor, ca 112/0-100 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 3.24g), dated RY 8 (108/7 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on shield set on ground, spear leaning against arm; O/M monogram - Λ across field, H (date) in exergue. VF, toned, light scratches. Strickhausen Coll.; Ex CNG 37 (3/1996), lot 598; Ambassador Eric von Post Collection.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Tetradrachm1269 viewsAriarathes VII Philometoros, 116-101 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.58g), struck ca 116 BC in Eusebeia Tyana. Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding spear in left hand, which rests on round shield adorned with gorgoneion; on her right hand, Nike crowns the epithet Philometor with wreath; O - Λ; all within olive wreath. Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Tetradrachm1277 viewsAriarathes VII, 116-101 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.44g), Eusebeia-Tyana mint. Diademed head of Antiochos VII of Syria right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand, shield and spear in left; monograms in outer left field, O-Λ across field; all within wreath. EF. Unique.
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(BC 116-101) Ariarathes VII - Tetradrachm1187 viewsAriarathes VII Philometoros, 116-101 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.47g), Eusebeia Tyana mint. Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding spear in left hand, which rests on round shield adorned with gorgoneion; on her right hand, Nike crowns the epithet Philometor with wreath; O - Λ; all within olive wreath. Extremely rare. Toned, EF.
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(BC 120-63) Mithdradates VI - Tetradrachm2907 viewsMithradates VI, 120-63 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.31g, 12h). Pergamon mint. Dated month 11 of 202 BE (August 95 BC). Diademed head right, hair neatly tucked under diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ ΕΥΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, stag grazing left; star and crescent to left, BΣ (year) and monogram to right, IA (month) in exergue; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Good VF, toned, slight die shift on obverse.
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(BC 128-94) Nikomedes III - Tetradrachm981 viewsca 128-92 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.02g), dated year 204 of Bithynian era (= 94/93 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΟΥ, Zeus standing left, wreath in right hand, staff in left; eagle and mongram to left, ΔΣ (date) below. Slight spotting, EF. Ex MuM 88 (1999), lot 212; Ex Deppert Liste 2 (9/1959), lot 64.
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(BC 128-94) Nikomedes III - Tetradrachm1046 viewsNikomedes III, 128-94 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.83g, 12h), dated 177 BE (121/0 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΟΥ, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; to inner left, eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and ZOP (date). Good VF, lightly toned, broad flan. Rare variety, only one specimen cited by De Callatay. Cohen Coll.; ex New York Sale V (1/2003), lot 136.
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(BC 128-94) Nikomedes III - Tetradrachm929 viewsNikomedes III, 128-94 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.14g, 32mm). Dated CY 203 (95/94 BC). Diademed head right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath and sceptre; eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and date to left. Nice VF, small flan flaw behind head.
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(BC 130-112/0) Ariarathes VI - Drachm1398 viewsAriarathes VI Epiphanes, ca 130-112/0 BC. AR Drachm (4.08g, 12h), uncertain mint. Draped bust right, wearing tiara adorned with two (Pontic) stars / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟ[ΡΟΣ] (APIAPA inverted), Athena seated left, holding laurel wreath in extended right hand, left arm resting on shield set on ground, spear behind; at feet, dog(?) standing left, head right. VF, toned, porous, scuff in field on obverse causing slight wave in flan. Extremely rare, perhaps the third known.
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(BC 130-112/0) Ariarathes VI - Drachm1083 viewsAriarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator, ca 130-112/0 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.18g, 12h). Mint C (Komana?). Diademed head right, wearing short beard / Athena standing left, holding wreath and palm; monograms to inner left and outer right, I in exergue. VF, lightly toned, a few light marks on obverse. Unpublished with bearded portrait.

The standard depiction is of Athena Nikephoros, but here she holds a wreath and palm rather than Nike and spear. The Cappadocian warrior-goddess Enyo-Ma was their local version of Athena, and Mørkholm thought this rendition of Athena may have been more closely based on the standard depiction of this local goddess, whose temple was at Komana. This unusual depiction only occurred on Mørkholm's issues 3 and 4 at mint C, and he was uncertain of the underlying reason for its appearance. Mint C was apparently established during the reign of Ariarathes VI, most likely due to uncertain military necessities. Although the location of the mint at Komana is not certain, issues of this mint have a metrological affinity with those of mint A (Eusebia-Mazaka [Caesarea]), suggesting a location proximate to the latter.
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(BC 130-112/0) Ariarathes VI Epiphanes - Drachm829 viewsAriarathes VI Epiphanes, 130-112/0 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.19g, 12h). Mint C (Comana?). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to outer left, IΓ in exergue. Good VF, scratches on obverse.



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(BC 130-116) Ariarathes VI - Drachm945 viewsAriarathes VI, Epiphanes Philopator, 130-116 BC. AR Drachm (4.12g), Eusebeia Tyana mint, dated year 4 (126/125 BC). Head with band right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ - ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, Athena left, holding spear and shield in left hand, Nike in right; monogram to left, A to right, Δ (date) in exergue. EF.
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(BC 130-116) Ariarathes VI - Obol1191 viewsAriarathes VI, Epiphanes, 130-116 BC. AR Obol (0.88g), Mazaka/Eusebeia mint. Bust right, wearing Tiara / Ram left, head turned back; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ. Lighly toned, VF. Very rare.
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(BC 130-116) Ariarathes VI - Obol664 viewsAriarathes VI, Epiphanes, 130-116 BC. AR Obol (0.73g). Bust right, wearing tiara / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ, ram galloping left, head turned back. VF. Very rare.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm1682 viewsEumenes III (Aristonikos), pretender to the throne of Pergamon, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (12.47g), struck in Lydia, Thyateia, dated year 2 (of his revolt=132/1 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow-case with serpents; thunderbolt above, [Θ]ΥΑ, to left; male head (Dionysos?) to right; within coils of serpents, BA-EY and B (date). VF, toned, reverse slightly double-struck. Very rare.

When the Pergamene king Attalos II died in 134 BC, he bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans. Because the Romans were slow in securing their claim, Aristonikos, son of the earlier Pergamene king Eumenes II, filled the power vacuum, claiming the throne and taking the dynastic name Eumenes. Although unable to capture Pergamon, his revolt lasted four years, until he was defeated and captured by the Romans under the consul M. Perperna. After his surrender, he was paraded through Rome and executed.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm795 viewsAristonikos as Eumenes III, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (30mm, 11.94g, 11h), dated year 3 (132/131 BC). Mobile mint, struck in Lydia, Apollonis. Cista mystica with open lid, snake crawling out to left, all in ivy wreath / ΒΑ-ΕΥ /Γ/ ΑΠ-ΟΛ, Two snakes around bow case decorated with aphlaston, thunderbolt above; in left field, head of Zeus (?) left, in right, head of Dionysos (?) right. Corroded, VF. Ex Gorny & Mosch, Auk. 113 (10/2001), 5250.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm770 viewsAristonikos as Eumenes III, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (26mm, 12.11g, 12h), dated year 4 (131/130 BC). Mobile mint, struck in Lydia, Apollonis. Cista mystica with open lid, snake crawling out to left, all in ivy wreath / ΒΑ-ΕΥ /Δ/ ΑΠ-ΟΛ, Two snakes around bow case decorated with aphlaston, thunderbolt above; in left field, head of Zeus (?) left, in right, head of Dionysos (?) right. VF. Very rare.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm222 viewsEumenes III Aristonikos (pretender to the throne of Pergamon), 132-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.83g), struck at Thyateira, dated year 1 (of his revolt, 133/2 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bowcase between two serpents; ΘVA to left. Controls: BA-EY across field, horizontal winged thunderbolt above, A (date) below to left; to right, head (of Dionysos?) right. gVF.

A pretender to the Pergamene throne following the death of Attalos III, Aristonikos, adopting the name Eumenes III and claiming to be the son of Eumenes II, secured the kingdom for a brief period, issuing a series of Cistophoroi from Thyateira, Apollonis and Stratonikeia. Attalos had bequeathed the kingdom to the Romans, but they were slow to recognize this fact, and Aristonikos took advantage. Though dated coinage is known for years 2-4, years 1 and 5 are extremely rare, with just a couple specimens known.
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(BC 138-133) Attalos III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm214 viewsAttalos III (King of Pergamon), 138-133 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (30mm, 12.78g), struck at Ephesos, dated RY 2 (138/7 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bowcase between two serpents; EΦΕ to left. Controls: To right, B (date) above facing bust of Artemis Ephesia with headdress. gVF.
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(BC 145-140) Tetradrachm334 viewsca 145-140 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 16.37g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Head of Demeter right, wearing wreath of grain ears and triple-pendant earring / Two Kabeiroi, nude but for cloak tied at their necks, standing facing, each wearing laurel wreath and holding staff in outer hand; ΘEΩN KABEIPΩN at sides, ΣYPIΩN below, monogram to lower right; all within wreath. Good VF, toned, light porosity. Very rare.

This issue was attributed to the island of Syros based on the reverse legend. Recent scholarship, however, has convincingly shown that this is erroneous, as the reverse legend does not contain an ethnic, but names the type: the Divine Syrian Kaberioi. As the issue has long been linked to a rare portrait emission of Eumenes I with the same reverse type, it is clear that it must belong to a mint in the sphere of the kings of Pergamon. Although it is tempting to attribute it to the royal mint at Pergamon, this Attic-standard issue could have been struck at one of several mints under Attalid control. See A. Meadows, “The Closed Currency System of the Attalid Kingdom” in P. Thonemann, Attalid Asia Minor (Oxford, 2013), pp. 184–91 for the most current analysis.
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(BC 149-128) Nikomedes II - Tetradrachm942 viewsNikomedes II, 149-128 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.16g), dated year 86 of Bithynian Era (= 113/112 BC). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΟΥ, Zeus standing left, crowing king's name; in field, eagle on thunderbolt, monogram and ΣΠΡ (date) below. Toned, gVF/VF.
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(BC 149-128) Nikomedes II - Tetradrachm812 viewsNikomedes II, 149-128 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.68g). Diademed head of Nikomedes right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath and sceptre; eagle on thunderbolt and monogram to left. Good VF, broad flan, a few field nicks. From the Garth R. Drewry Collection. Ex CNG 43 (9/1997), lot 492.
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(BC 149-128) Nikomedes II - Tetradrachm1020 viewsNikomedes II, 149-128 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.13g), dated year 167 BE (132/131 BC). Diademed head right / Zeus standing, holding wreath and sceptre; eagle on thunderbolt, monogram and date before. Toned, good VF.
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(BC 160-139) Attalos II - Tetradrachm1145 viewsAttalos II (Philadelphos), 160-139 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.77g), after 150 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena sitting left on throne; monogram and torch to left, bow to right. Fine toning, partial corrosion, aEF.
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(BC 160-139) Attalos II - Tetradrachm829 viewsAttalos II (Philadelphos), 160-139 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.50g), after 150 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena sitting left on throne; AP and stylus to left, bow to right. aEF.
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(BC 160-156) Orophernes - Tetradrachm1546 viewsOrophernes, ca 160-156 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.82g). Diademed head of Orophernes right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΟΡΟΦΕΡΝΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, Nike standing left, crowning royal name with right hand and holding palm branch in left, in inner left field owl standing three-quarters left on altar above ΜΗΧΡ monogram. Among the greatest rarities of the Hellenistic portraiture. Slight "ghosting" on obverse, lightly toned, aEF.
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(BC 163-130) Ariarathes V - Drachm1378 viewsAriarathes V Eusebes Philopator, 163-130 BC. AR Drachm (4.16g, 12h). Year 29 (134/33 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear, and shield; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ, ΘΚ (date) in exergue. Lightly toned, EF. Ex Bank Leu AG, Auc 16 (10/1984), lot 282.
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(BC 163-130) Ariarathes V - Drachm779 viewsAriarathes V, Eusebes, Philopator. 163-130 BC. AR Drachm (3.93g). Diademed head right / Athena left with spear and shield holding figure of Nike, T in left field. Interesting and rare barbaric style. Very fine.
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(BC 163-130) Ariarathes V - Drachm1058 viewsAriarathes V Eusebes Philopator, ca 163-130 BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 4.33g, 12h). Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; monograms to inner left and outer right, ΓΛ in exergue. Good VF, lightly toned.

The attribution of much of the middle Cappadocian series has long been the subject of debate, primarily between B. Simonetta and O. Morkholm. Morkholm's attribtions appear to be more firmly grounded, particularly in hoard studies, and thus his conclusions that the earliest silver drachms are those of Ariarathes V and that the exergual letters on this series are not regnal dates are likely correct. As such, the latest studies and SNGs have attributed this portion of the series following his conclusions.
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(BC 169-150) Mithradates IV - Tetradrachm518 viewsMithradates IV, ca 170/169–150 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.83g), struck in Sinope ca 169 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ - ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ / ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ, Perseus, naked but for cloak over his shoulders, standing facing and holding gorgoneion and harpa; monogram in lower left field. Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. An elegant portrait of fine Hellenistic style struck in high relief on a very large flan. Old cabinet tone and aEF. Ex Leu sale 48 (1989), lot 209. From the von Aulock and Salvesen collections.

The reverse of this tetradrachm, which may perhaps predate Mithradates IV’s marriage to his sister, Laodike, depicts the hero Perseus. He appears here, not so much because Mithradates IV wanted to recall the myth of the hero, but because of an old Greek folk etymology that made Perseus an ancestor of the Persians. The Persian Great King Xerxes I (486-465 BC) was already aware of this etymology at the time of his invasion of mainland Greece (480 BC) and tried to use it to convince the Argives to capitulate. The link between Perseus and the Persians was deeply entrenched by 2nd century BC and Mithradates IV, who was himself of Iranian descent, used it to associate the Mithradatic dynasty of Pontus with the greatness of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The irony of using a Greek hero to advertise a connection to an Iranian empire that was frequently in conflict with the states of Greece is palpable. This irony is further compounded by the otherwise conscious Hellenizing of the obverse type and legend: Mithradates IV wears the diadem of a Hellenistic king rather than the tiara of an Iranian ruler, and the reverse legend is entirely Greek in its use of titles like Philopator (”Father-loving”) and Philadelphos (”Brother-loving”). The combination of types and inscriptions on this tetradrachm is wonderfully schizophrenic in the desire to simultaneously tout Mithradates IV as an Iranian scion of the Persian Empire and as a Hellenistic king in emulation of Alexander the Great, the destroyer of that same empire.
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(BC 169-150) Mithradates IV - Tetradrachm630 viewsMithradates IV, ca 170/169-150 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.99g), struck ca 169-150 BC. Diademed and draped busts of Mithradates IV and Laodice right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] / ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ - ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ / ΛΑΟΔΙΚΗΣ / ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ, Zeus, with thunder­bolt, and Hera standing facing side by side, both holding scepter. Extremely rare. An issue of great fascination with two pleasant Hellenistic portraits, surface somewhat porous, otherwise gVF. Ex NAC sale 2 (1990), lot 173. From the Jameson and Salvesen collections.

Mithradates IV Philopator succeeded his brother, Pharnakes I, as king of Pontus and took great pains to undo the damage to the Pontic kingdom caused by Pharnakes’s conflicts with the neighboring Bithynian and Attalid kingdoms. He supported Attalos II against Prousias II of Bithynia in 154 BC, which also made him a friend of Rome. The friendly relationship that he established with the Romans remained firm until it was shattered irreparably by Mithradates VI Eupator and the Asiatic Vespers of 89/8 BC. Although little else is known about the reign of Mithradates IV, his coins reveal much about the king’s desire to present himself as a Hellenistic monarch equal to the Antigonid, Seleucid, and Ptolemaic kings who could trace their bloodlines back to the generals of Alexander the Great. Despite his Iranian ancestry and possession of a backwater kingdom on the Black Sea, this tetradrachm firmly places him in the tradition of Hellenistic royal superpowers. He wears the diadem, the universal symbol of Hellenistic kingship, and is jugate with the head of his wife, Laodice, who also happened to be his sister. The royal jugate portrait was first pioneered by Ptolemy II Philadelphos for gold coins celebrating the deification of his father and mother as well as of himself and his own sister-wife, Arsinoe II. While marriage between brother and sister had a long tradition among the pharaohs and therefore Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II could be seen as continuing the native Egyptian custom, it was not acceptable in mainstream Greek culture. In an attempt to make his brother-sister marriage more palatable to Greeks, the apologists of Ptolemy II appealed to his divinity, pointing out that Zeus and Hera were also brother and sister. The reverse type of this tetradrachm also seems to make the same argument, depicting the full-length figures of Zeus and Hera as a parallel for the portraits of the king and Laodice on the obverse. The type was presumably aimed at a Greek audience (outside of Pontus?) since brother-sister marriages were not unknown among ancient Iranian elites and would not have required any special explanation - and certainly not one appealing to Greek gods - to the native Iranian population of Pontus. In addition to the aspiration to royal greatness in the footsteps of the Ptolemaic kings expressed by this coin, the treatment of the portraits is remarkable. Unlike the frequent tendency towards idealization in Hellenistic royal coin portraits, the portraits of Mithradates VI and Laodice approach a style that seems to underline the non-Greek ethnicity of the Pontic king and queen. The un-Greek character of the royal portraits are at odds with the other features of the coin that virtually scream Greek royal culture following the Ptolemaic model. As such, this coin brilliantly encapsulates the spirit of the Hellenistic Age, in which many non-Greeks sought to elevate themselves through the adoption of Greek cultural elements.
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(BC 182-149) Prusias II - Tetradrachm945 viewsPrusias II Cynegos, 182-149 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.91g, 1h). Diademed and winged head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ, Zeus Stephanophoros standing left; to inner left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt above monogram. Near EF. Exceptional Hellenistic portrait. Drewry Coll.; ex Triton III (12/1999), lot 484.
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(BC 182-149) Prusias II - Tetradrachm796 viewsPrusias II, 182-149 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.99g, 11h). Diademed and winged head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; to inner left, monogram above and below eagle standing left on thunderbolt. Superb EF, lightly toned. Exceptional Hellenistic portrait. Ex Leu 83 (5/2003), lot 281; Tkalec (10/1994), lot 94; Leu 2 (4/1972), lot 223.
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(BC 182-149) Prusias II - Tetradrachm945 viewsPrusias II, 182-149 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.88g, 34mm, 12h). Diademed and winged head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; to inner left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, monograms below. Toned, aEF/VF. Ex Giessener Muenzhandlung Auc. 67 (5/1994), lot 202.
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(BC 182-149) Prusias II - Tetradrachm 722 viewsPrusias II Cynegos, 182-149 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.79g, 12h), Nikomedeia mint. Head of Prusias right, with slight beard and wearing winged diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ, Zeus standing left, half draped, crowning king's name with an olive wreath held in his right hand and holding a long scepter in his left; to left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt over monogram. aEF. PGB coll.

Prusias II was a king about whom little good can be said. His epithet means “the Hunter” and that was the activity he liked most. As his reign went on, he became more and more disliked; he was killed after his much more attractive son Nikomedes revolted against him and took over the throne to universal acclaim.
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(BC 197-160) Eumenes II - Tetradrachm1140 viewsEumenes II, 197-160 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.75g, 32mm), struck ca 169-160 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left on throne with lion's leg, wearing long, sleeveless chiton and crested Corinthian helmet, holding spear in left hand, crowning king's name with raised right hand, left elbow resting on large, round shield with gorgoneion; in outer left field, stylis, A in center, bow to right. EF. Rare. Ex Muenzen und Medaillen AG, Basel Fixed Price List 415 (1979), lot 2.
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(BC 200-169) Pharnakes III - Drachm2487 viewsPharnakes III, ca 200-169 BC. AR Drachm (4.11g, 11h). Diademed and bearded head of Pharnakes right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦAPNAKOY, male figure, wearing petasos, standing facing, cradling cornucopia and kerykeion in his left arm, and holding vine branch in his right hand; star-in-crescent (Pontic royal symbol) to upper left; to lower left, deer standing right, feeding on vine; monogram to right. Good VF, toned, a hint of porosity. Well centered on a broad flan. Splendid hellenistic portrait.

The king in this issue has traditionally been labeled as Pharnakes I, but more recent literature has shown that he is actually the third Pontic king to hold that name. Pharnakes III ascended the throne after the death of his father, Mithridates III, ca 200 BC. Most of his reign was spent attempting to expand the borders of his realm, which, ca 181 BC, brought him into conflict with Eumenes II of Pergamon and Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia, who were allied with each other. Each side blamed the other for the aggression, and appealed to Rome to intervene. Hostilities were temporarily halted after the arrival of a Roman delegation, but their failure to resolve the disputes led to renewed warfare. By 179 BC, it was clear that Pharnakes could no longer withstand the combined Pergamene and Cappadocian forces. In exchange for peace, Pharnakes gave up his possessions in Galatia and Paphlagonia, except for the important trading city of Sinope. Little else is known of his reign.
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(BC 200-169) Pharnakes III - Tetradrachm2407 viewsca 170 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.85g, 12h), Sinope mint. Diademed and bearded head of Pharnakes III to right / Pantheistic male deity standing facing, wearing broad petasos, chiton, chlamys and high boots, holding a cornucopiae and a kerykeion with his left hand and feeding a fawn standing right from a vine branch and grapes held in his right; thunderbolt above his head, star within crescent to left. RRR! Toned, probably the finest known tetradrachm of Pharnakes, and with the most realistic of all Hellenistic portraits. Extremely fine.

From the collection of W. Wahler, Numismatic Fine Arts XXV (11/1990), 119, ex Numismatic Fine Arts V (2/1978), 123, and Monnaies et Medailles 47 (11/1972), 475.
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(BC 200-169) Pharnakes III - Tetradrachm1496 viewsPharnakes III, ca 185-170 BC. AR Tetradrachm (35mm, 16.38g, 11h). Diademed head right / Ma(?) standing facing, holding caduceus and cornucopiae, feeding branch to doe standing right below. VF, toned, cleaning scratches under tone. Exceptional Hellenistic portrait. Very rare.
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(BC 220-163) Ariarathes IV - Drachm981 viewsAriarathes IV, Eusebes, 220-163 BC. AR Drachm (3.82g). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear, and shield; monograms to left and below, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ - ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ. Toned, about EF.
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(BC 220-163) Ariarathes IV - Drachm1140 viewsAriarathes IV, 220-163 BC. AR Drachm (4.18g, 11h). Dated Year 33 (188/87 BC). Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike, shield and spear; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ, ΓΛ (date) in exergue. EF. Ex Lanz Auc. 102 (5/2001), lot 285 (Ariarathes V; sold DM 425 ($190) + comm).
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(BC 220-200) Mithradates III - Drachm1637 viewsMithradates III, ca 220-196/5 BC. AR Drachm (3.96g, 12h). Amaseia or Sinope mint. Struck ca 200 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; to inner left field, star above crescent above monogram. Good VF, toned, granular surfaces, minor edge chips. Extremely rare, the finest of two known, the other in the BN.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen Deutschland 11 (11/2002), lot 676; Bayerische Vereinsbank Münzschätze FPL 11 (4/1976), no. 32.

With the exception of the coinage of Mithradates VI ‘the Great’, the coins of the earlier Pontic kings are very rare, and only a handful of drachms are known. As noted by Mørkholm in EHC, the portraits of these Pontic kings are among the most striking and lifelike in all of Greek royal portrait coinage. Unlike many other series, such as the Ptolemies and Seleukids, the portraits here are not idealized, portraying their subjects “warts and all.” Only some of the coins of the early Greco-Baktrian kings have such lovely die workmanship, but the character displayed in these Pontic portraits is unparalleled.
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(BC 220-200) Mithradates III - Tetradrachm4037 viewsca 220-196/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.19g, 12h). Amaseia or Sinope mints. Diademed and draped bust to right / Zeus seated left on throne, holding eagle and scepter; star within crescent to left; monogram below throne. Extremely rare. Toned, EF. Gillet Coll., Bank Leu & Munzen und Medaillen (Kunstfreund) (5/1974), 243; Rothschild coll., SWH (5/1900), 304; Carfrae coll., SWH (5/1894), 187; Dupree Coll., Hoffmann (4/1867), 240.1 comments
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(BC 228-183) Prusias I - Tetradrachm1268 viewsPrusias I, 228-183 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.99g, 12h). Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; thunderbolt above two monograms to inner left. Good VF, light scratches.
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(BC 228-183) Prusias I - Tetradrachm2635 viewsPrusias I, 228-183 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.30g, 32mm). Diademed head right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath and lotus tipped scepter; thunderbolt and two monograms to left; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ. Rare. Good VF.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetdradrachm1123 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.93g, 12h). Laureate and diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding wreath in right hand, left elbow resting on shield set on ground behind, spear below; ivy leaf to outer left, A to inner left, bow to outer right. Superb EF.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetdradrachm648 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.00g, 12h). Struck ca 241-235 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name with wreath; spear in background, bee to outer left, monogram to inner left, bow to right. Near EF, lightly toned, a few small marks. Rare.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetradrachm856 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.00g). Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left, holding wreath, left arm resting on shield, spear behind, ivy leaf to outer left, A to inner left, bow to outer right. Lightly toned VF.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm871 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.92g). Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left, holding shield and spear, ivy leaf above knee, bow to right, A on throne. Good VF, toned, minor porosity.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm841 viewsEumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.14g, 12h). Laureate and diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦIΛETAIPOY, Athena enthroned left, holding shield with right hand, spear in left arm, left elbow resting on sphinx; ivy leaf above knee, bow to right, A on throne. EF, lightly toned.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm587 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.02g, 12h). Struck ca 255/50-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting on shield to right, holding transverse spear; ivy leaf to outer left, monogram to inner left, bow to outer right. EF, toned, tiny edge nick, area of slight roughness on reverse.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm647 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.20g, 1h). Struck ca 263-255/50 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting elbow on small sphinx, holding shield and transverse spear; ivy leaf to inner left, monogram on throne, bow to outer right. EF, toned, light bag marks.
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(BC 280-250) Nikomedes I - Tetradrachm2028 viewsNikomedes I, ca 280-250 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.57g, 11h), Nikomedia mint, struck ca 260-250 BC. Diademed head right / Bendis seated right, holding two spears; shield below; to outer left, Nike advancing left. Good VF, toned, minor porosity. One of approximately six known, and apparently the only specimen in private hands. One of the greatest rarities among the important early Hellenistic portrait coins.

Nikomedes brought the dreaded Galatians or Gauls into Asia Minor. With their help, he extended his hitherto landlocked kingdom to the coast of the Propontis, where he established his new capital of Nikomedia. He was the first of his dynasty to issue coins. Nikomedes' tetradrachms exhibit an exceptional Hellenistic portrait. This is the only specimen not in a museum collection; Berlin, Vienna, and the BM each have one example, Paris (BN) has two. All have the same reverse type of Bendis (the Thracian Artemis) seated, though only Berlin and the present piece do not have the additional monogram in the inner left field.
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(BC 282-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm3217 viewsPhiletairos I, 282-263 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.85g). Diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding shield and spear, left elbow resting on sphinx, ivy leaf above knee, A on throne, bow to outer right. Good VF, scattered light porosity, more so on the reverse. Rare.

Westermark attributed this issue to Eumenes I. However, a more recent analysis of hoard evidence has indicated that this coinage is actually struck during the lifetime of Philetairos, near the end of his reign, following the limited issue of tetradrachms bearing the portrait of Seleukos I. A. Davesne, G. Le Rider, Gulnar II. Le tresor de Meydancikkale (Paris, 1989), cf. pp. 334-339.
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(BC 282-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm1150 viewsPhiletairos I, 282-263 BC, struck ca 263 BC (possibly lifetime or by successor nephew Eumenes I). AR Tetradrachm (17.02g). Pergamon mint. Head of Philetairos right, wearing taenia / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, resting right hand on shield and left elbow on sphinx, ivy leaf in inner left field, A on throne, bow in right field. Good VF.

There is speculation from hoard evidence that these coins were issued in the late part of Philetairos' reign - the taenia on the head is of interest in this regard.
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(BC 284-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm1625 viewsPhiletairos I, 284-263 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.70g). Diademed head of Seleukos I right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding shield and spear, ivy leaf before, bow behind, A on throne. Good VF, reverse a little rough, with scrapes and light graffiti. Rare.

When Lysimachos established the mint of Pergamon, he entrusted its treasury to the eunuch Philetairos. In the latter 280s BC, Philetairos changed his allegiance to Seleukos I. Shortly thereafter in 281 BC, Lysimachos was defeated by Seleukos at the Battle of Korupedion. Although Seleukos was assassinated the following year, Philetairos continued to acknowledge Seleukid primacy. This coinage, commemorating Seleukos I, was struck while Pergamon was still loyal to the Seleukids, under their king Antiochos I. Houghton & Lorber (SC), citing Le Rider and Newell, assign this coinage to the aftermath of Antiochos' victory over the Galatians, circa 269/8 BC.
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(BC 333-322) Ariarathes I - Drachm1407 viewsAriarathes I, 333-322 BC. AR Drachm (5.04g). Pontos, Gaziura mint. Baal of Gaziura seated left, holding eagle, grain ear and grape cluster in right hand, scepter in left; in Aramaic 'Baal-Gazur' behind (not visible here) / Griffin attacking a kneeling stag left, 'Ariorath' in Aramaic below. VF, light porosity. Rare.
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(BC 333-322) Ariarathes I - Drachm1515 viewsAriarathes I, 333-322 BC. AR Drachm (5.19g). Pontos, Gaziura mint. Baal of Gaziura seated left, holding eagle, grain ear and grape cluster in right hand, scepter in left; 'Baal-Gazur' in Aramaic behind / Griffin attacking a kneeling stag left, 'Ariorath' in Aramaic (mostly off flan) below. VF. Rare.
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(BC 333-322) Ariarathes I - Drachm3137 viewsAriarathes I, 333-322 BC. AR Drachm (5.27g). Pontos, Gaziura mint. Baal of Gaziura seated left, holding eagle, grain ear and grape cluster in right hand, scepter in left; in Aramaic 'Baal-Gazur' behind / Griffin attacking a kneeling stag left, 'Ariorath' in Aramaic above. Good VF, light porosity. Very rare. Ex Peus 337 (1993), lot 152.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Didrachm889 viewsPixodaros, Satrap, 341-336 BC. AR Didrachm (7.04g, 12h). Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / ΠΙΞΟΔΑΡΟΥ, Zeus Labraundos standing right. EF, light golden toning around devices. Ex Gorny & Mosch 107 (4/2001), lot 197.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Didrachm839 viewsPixodaros, Satrap, 340-334 BC. AR Didrachm (21mm, 6.98g). Laureate head of Apollo, facing slightly right / ΠΙΞΟΔΑΡΟΥ, Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding double axe (labrys) and lotus-tipped sceptre. EF, toned.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Didrachm760 viewsPixodaros. Circa 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Didrachm (19mm, 6.99g, 12h). Wreathed head of Apollo facing slightly right, drapery around neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right. EF, very lightly toned.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Tetradrachm952 viewsPixodaros, Satrap, 340-334 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.10g, 12h). Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath / ΠΙΞΟΔΑΡΟΥ, Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and lotus-tipped scepter; small E between feet and sceptre. EF, toned, some minor roughness on the reverse. Very rare. Cohen Coll.

The obverse die on this coin was also used to strike tetradrachms in the name of Hidrieus. The die sharing and the carry-over from Hiedreius' issues of the small E on the reverse suggest that Pixodaros' tetradrachms were struck early in his reign.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Trihemiobol682 viewsPixodaros, Satrap, 340-334 BC. AR Trihemiobol (0.78g). Head of Apollo facing, chlamys fastened round neck / ΠΙΞΟΔΑΡΟ between eight rays of an ornament star. aEF. Rare.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Trihemiobol731 viewsPixodaros, Satrap, 340-334 BC. AR Trihemiobol (0.84g). Halikarnassos mint. Head of Apollo facing, chlamys fastened round neck / ΠΙΞΟΔΑΡΟ between eight rays of an ornament star. EF. Rare.
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(BC 340-334) Pixodaros - Trihemiobol357 viewsPixodaros, ca 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Trihemiobol (10mm, 0.84g). Halikarnassos mint. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / ΠIΞΩΔAPO (retrograde), starlike floral pattern. gVF.
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(BC 344-326) Ada or Orontobates - Drachm612 views4th cent BC. AR Drachm (14mm, 3.43g). Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / Star of twelve points; I-I Δ-Ο around. VF, toned, minor porosity. Very rare.
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