PONTOS. Amisos. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 85-65 B.C. Æ. 12.85 gm. 24 mm. Head of Perseus right, wearing Phrygian helmet / Pegasos grazing left; ΑΜΙΣΟΥ and monogram in exergue. HGC 7, 239. SNG BM Black Sea 1215 var. (monogram–only one of the two appear in the present coin). Good Very Fine; lovely rich and glossy chocolate brown patina; die polishing marks on reverse; crisp and attractive with fine style. The reverse type links this issue with the early tetradrachms of Mithradates.

Perseus, a son of Zeus and one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, is most renowned for beheading the Gorgon Medusa and using her severed head, which could turn onlookers into stone, as a mighty weapon in his later adventures. He slayed the sea monster Cetus, rescuing Andromeda, who became his wife. One of their sons was Electryon, the father of Alcmene, whose union with Zeus produced the most iconic Greek hero ever, Heracles, making Perseus both Heracles' great-grandparent and his half-brother.