Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. 67/66 BC. Diademed head of Mithradates to right / Stag grazing on ground line to left, star within crescent to left, monogram to right; BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ and AΛΣ (date = year 231 of the Bithynian era) below, all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. De Callataÿ p. 22, D77/R-; SNG France 826 (same obv. die); Waddington 131 = Recueil Général p. 20, pl. 3, no. 6; DCA 692; HGC 3.2, 340. 16.44g, 32mm, 12h.
Mint State; light cabinet tone, a resplendent late Hellenistic portrait. Extremely Rare; one of only eight surviving examples, with only two known to de Callataÿ.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Jonathan P. Rosen Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction VII, 22 March 2014, lot 759 (hammer: £12,000).
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.
This coin portrays Mithradates in youthful style and idealised fashion after the manner of Alexander, from whose generals (Seleukos, Antipater and Antigonos Monophthalmos, among others including Cyrus the Great and the family of Darios the Great), Mithradates claimed to be descended. It is thus in itself a poignant irony, an object of great beauty produced in the twilight years of Hellenism for the vanity of the last of the powerful Greek kings, the final obstacle to complete Roman domination of the Mediterranean. With Mithradates' defeat and passing three short years after this, his last tetradrachm issue was struck, all that remained of the once great Hellenistic kingdoms that spanned from Sicily to Baktria were a rapidly disintegrating Seleukid rump state and a decadent Ptolemaic kingdom already firmly albeit indirectly under Roman control.
Mint State; light cabinet tone, a resplendent late Hellenistic portrait. Extremely Rare; one of only eight surviving examples, with only two known to de Callataÿ.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Jonathan P. Rosen Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction VII, 22 March 2014, lot 759 (hammer: £12,000).
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.
This coin portrays Mithradates in youthful style and idealised fashion after the manner of Alexander, from whose generals (Seleukos, Antipater and Antigonos Monophthalmos, among others including Cyrus the Great and the family of Darios the Great), Mithradates claimed to be descended. It is thus in itself a poignant irony, an object of great beauty produced in the twilight years of Hellenism for the vanity of the last of the powerful Greek kings, the final obstacle to complete Roman domination of the Mediterranean. With Mithradates' defeat and passing three short years after this, his last tetradrachm issue was struck, all that remained of the once great Hellenistic kingdoms that spanned from Sicily to Baktria were a rapidly disintegrating Seleukid rump state and a decadent Ptolemaic kingdom already firmly albeit indirectly under Roman control.