Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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Asia Minor. Kings of Cappadocia. Ariarathes V, c. 163 - 130 BC. Tetradrachm, Eusebeia-Mazaca, 134 BC. (Silver, 16.76g., 33.8mm). Diademed head of Ariarathes V to right / BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ APIAPAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ Athena standing left, holding Nike on her extended right hand and, with her left, holding a spear and a shield ornamented with a gorgoneion; at outer left, inner left and outer right, monograms; in exergue, ΘΚ (= regnal year 29). Simonetta 1 (Ariarathes IV). SNG von Aulock 6263 (same obverse die).
A very rare coin, well-centered and well-struck with a fine portrait of the best ruler of Cappadocia. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Purchased privately from Numismatica Genevensis SA in March 2009.
Ariarathes V, had both Greek and Persian ancestry: his father Ariarathes IV was Graeco-Persian and his mother Antiochis was the daughter of Antiochos III of Syria. He seems to have been educated in Athens where he became friends with the future king Attalos II of Pergamon. The only real dangers to his reign were the usurpation of Orophernes (best known from some extremely rare portrait tetradrachms), and the boundless ambition and cruelty of his wife Nysa-Laodice, daughter of Pharnaces I of Pontus: she apparently murdered five of her six sons in order to be sole ruler at the death of Ariarathes V. In the end, she ruled as regent for her sixth son, Ariarathes VI until the Cappadocians rose up and executed her. That he put up with her as long as he did shows that Ariarathes V, despite being quite a good king, must have been personally both highly patient and very foolish.
A very rare coin, well-centered and well-struck with a fine portrait of the best ruler of Cappadocia. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Purchased privately from Numismatica Genevensis SA in March 2009.
Ariarathes V, had both Greek and Persian ancestry: his father Ariarathes IV was Graeco-Persian and his mother Antiochis was the daughter of Antiochos III of Syria. He seems to have been educated in Athens where he became friends with the future king Attalos II of Pergamon. The only real dangers to his reign were the usurpation of Orophernes (best known from some extremely rare portrait tetradrachms), and the boundless ambition and cruelty of his wife Nysa-Laodice, daughter of Pharnaces I of Pontus: she apparently murdered five of her six sons in order to be sole ruler at the death of Ariarathes V. In the end, she ruled as regent for her sixth son, Ariarathes VI until the Cappadocians rose up and executed her. That he put up with her as long as he did shows that Ariarathes V, despite being quite a good king, must have been personally both highly patient and very foolish.