Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Pergamon, dated year 231 BE (October 67/September 66 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ, stag grazing left; star within crescent to left, monogram to right, AΛΣ (date) below; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. De Callataÿ obv. die D77; Waddington 131 = RG pg. 20, pl. 3, no. 6; HGC 7, 340; DCA 692. 16.44g, 32mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. The example presented here bring the known corpus to just eight surviving coins.
Ex Roma Numismatics VII, 22 March 2014, lot 759 (sold for £12,000 but not paid for).
The last known issue of tetradrachms in Mithradates' name were struck at the height of the Third Mithradatic War, when he had succeeded in regaining control of his kingdom of Pontos after a resounding victory at the Battle of Zela where 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.