Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XI 7 April 2016
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Kingdom of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. 67/66 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, monogram to right, date (year 231) below. De Callataÿ D77/R1a; Paris, BN, Pont 50 = Waddington 131; Burgan, 30 June 1984, 309. 16.44g, 32mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. The examples presented here bring the known corpus up to just eight surviving coins.
Ex Roma Numismatics VII, 22 March 2014, lot 759 (sold for £12,000 but not paid for).
The latest known tetradrachms struck by Mithradates date from the year 231 BE (67/66 BC), of which De Callataÿ found only three extant examples from two reverse dies. Struck at the height of the Third Mithradatic War, Mithradates had succeeded in regaining control of his kingdom of Pontos after a resounding victory at the Battle of Zela, in which the Romans suffered near catastrophic casualties and were routed, leaving 7000 dead on the field including 24 tribunes and 150 centurions. Despite this victory, Mithradates had only bought himself brief respite, as Pompey's campaign against the Mediterranean pirates was brought to a close and he proceeded to take command of the war against Mithradates, reorganising the Roman forces and drawing on reinforcements from Cilicia, such that a force of some six legions was brought under his command. Pompey opened peace negotiations with Mithradates, naming his terms as a formal submission to Pompey's authority and the surrender of a large number of Roman deserters who were now fighting on the Pontic side. Mithradates refused his terms, and forced onto the defensive, he made preparations to receive Pompey's assault.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. The examples presented here bring the known corpus up to just eight surviving coins.
Ex Roma Numismatics VII, 22 March 2014, lot 759 (sold for £12,000 but not paid for).
The latest known tetradrachms struck by Mithradates date from the year 231 BE (67/66 BC), of which De Callataÿ found only three extant examples from two reverse dies. Struck at the height of the Third Mithradatic War, Mithradates had succeeded in regaining control of his kingdom of Pontos after a resounding victory at the Battle of Zela, in which the Romans suffered near catastrophic casualties and were routed, leaving 7000 dead on the field including 24 tribunes and 150 centurions. Despite this victory, Mithradates had only bought himself brief respite, as Pompey's campaign against the Mediterranean pirates was brought to a close and he proceeded to take command of the war against Mithradates, reorganising the Roman forces and drawing on reinforcements from Cilicia, such that a force of some six legions was brought under his command. Pompey opened peace negotiations with Mithradates, naming his terms as a formal submission to Pompey's authority and the surrender of a large number of Roman deserters who were now fighting on the Pontic side. Mithradates refused his terms, and forced onto the defensive, he made preparations to receive Pompey's assault.