Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIII 23 March 2017
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Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator AR Tetradrachm. First reign. Dated year 3 = 97 BC. Diademed head of Ariarathes IX right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Athena standing left, right hand supporting Nike who offers wreath to her, left hand resting on grounded shield, vertical spear in background behind; Γ in exergue. Mørkholm, Essays Robinson, 8 (A2/P11); Simonetta 4b (Ariarathes V); NC 1961, pl. III, 14. 16.27g, 30mm, 12h.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; Mørkholm records only 2 examples.
Son of the infamous Mithradates VI of Pontos, Ariarathes IX was installed on the throne of Cappadocia at the age of eight by his father, who had treacherously killed the previous Cappadocian king Ariarathes VII, his sister's son.
Though a few years into the new boy-king's reign a faction renounced his rule and called upon the former king's brother to lead the revolt, this was soon suppressed and Ariarathes XI ruled for a couple of years more, until in 95 BC the Roman Senate resolved to depose him. After a short period of turmoil, the Romans directed the Cappadocians to choose whomsoever they wished to rule, and thus the kingdom passed to Ariobarzanes I Philoromaios. After a brief restoration by his father's ally Tigranes the Great of Armenia, Ariarathes was again deposed, and thus deprived of his kingdom, he was apparently killed while serving as a commander of his father's troops in northern Greece during the First Mithradatic War.
Despite what must have been a prodigious quantity of coinage issued in the name of Ariarathes IX, today it is extremely rare. Only five of his coins have come to auction over the past couple of decades, of which three are similarly from his first reign, and all from year 2.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; Mørkholm records only 2 examples.
Son of the infamous Mithradates VI of Pontos, Ariarathes IX was installed on the throne of Cappadocia at the age of eight by his father, who had treacherously killed the previous Cappadocian king Ariarathes VII, his sister's son.
Though a few years into the new boy-king's reign a faction renounced his rule and called upon the former king's brother to lead the revolt, this was soon suppressed and Ariarathes XI ruled for a couple of years more, until in 95 BC the Roman Senate resolved to depose him. After a short period of turmoil, the Romans directed the Cappadocians to choose whomsoever they wished to rule, and thus the kingdom passed to Ariobarzanes I Philoromaios. After a brief restoration by his father's ally Tigranes the Great of Armenia, Ariarathes was again deposed, and thus deprived of his kingdom, he was apparently killed while serving as a commander of his father's troops in northern Greece during the First Mithradatic War.
Despite what must have been a prodigious quantity of coinage issued in the name of Ariarathes IX, today it is extremely rare. Only five of his coins have come to auction over the past couple of decades, of which three are similarly from his first reign, and all from year 2.