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ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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PONTIC KINGDOM. Mithradates VI Eupator the Great (120-63 BC). AR tetradrachm (32mm, 16.74 gm, 11h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Dated Seleucid Era Year 212, 12th month (86/5 BC). Diademed head of Mithradates VI right, with windswept hair / BAΣΙΛEΩΣ / MIΘPAΔATOY / EYΠATOPOΣ, stag standing left on ground line, head lowered to graze; star within crescent above ΠΡΦ monogram in left field, BIΣ (date) above MAKE monogram to right, IB (September) below, all within ivy wreath. DCA 692. HGC 7, 340. De Callataÿ D3-R1. Cabinet toning with areas of luster.
Mithradates VI was a consistent thorn in the side of Rome for several decades. Soon after inheriting the throne of Pontus, Mithradates displayed an ambition his small kingdom could not contain. Observing growing resentment to Roman greed, he portrayed himself as the leader of resistance against Rome's suffocating hand. He launched a five-year war against Rome in 88 BC by invading Asia Province and massacring 80,000 Italian civilians. This led to a vigorous response led by the Roman general Sulla. But, on the verge of victory, Sulla was forced by political turmoil at home to sign a treaty restoring the pre-war status quo. A decade later, Mithradates launched another attack on the Roman protectorate of Bithynia, but was repelled by general Lucullus. His career finally concluded in 63 BC when, defeated by Pompey the Great, he was besieged in Panticapaeum by his own rebellious son and forced to commit suicide. After failing to kill himself via poison (to which he had become immune by taking small doses over many years), Mithradates induced a loyal Gallic officer to slay him.
The imagery on the obverse deliberately evokes the memory of Alexander the Great, depicting himself as a semi-divine conqueror with flowing, windswept hair. This popular and desirable series represents the last great example of Hellenistic portraiture.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-pontic-kingdom-mithradates-vi-eupator-the-great-120-63-bc-ar-tetradrachm-32mm-1674-gm-11h-ngc-ms-4/a/3094-33016.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD
PONTIC KINGDOM. Mithradates VI Eupator the Great (120-63 BC). AR tetradrachm (32mm, 16.74 gm, 11h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Dated Seleucid Era Year 212, 12th month (86/5 BC). Diademed head of Mithradates VI right, with windswept hair / BAΣΙΛEΩΣ / MIΘPAΔATOY / EYΠATOPOΣ, stag standing left on ground line, head lowered to graze; star within crescent above ΠΡΦ monogram in left field, BIΣ (date) above MAKE monogram to right, IB (September) below, all within ivy wreath. DCA 692. HGC 7, 340. De Callataÿ D3-R1. Cabinet toning with areas of luster.
Mithradates VI was a consistent thorn in the side of Rome for several decades. Soon after inheriting the throne of Pontus, Mithradates displayed an ambition his small kingdom could not contain. Observing growing resentment to Roman greed, he portrayed himself as the leader of resistance against Rome's suffocating hand. He launched a five-year war against Rome in 88 BC by invading Asia Province and massacring 80,000 Italian civilians. This led to a vigorous response led by the Roman general Sulla. But, on the verge of victory, Sulla was forced by political turmoil at home to sign a treaty restoring the pre-war status quo. A decade later, Mithradates launched another attack on the Roman protectorate of Bithynia, but was repelled by general Lucullus. His career finally concluded in 63 BC when, defeated by Pompey the Great, he was besieged in Panticapaeum by his own rebellious son and forced to commit suicide. After failing to kill himself via poison (to which he had become immune by taking small doses over many years), Mithradates induced a loyal Gallic officer to slay him.
The imagery on the obverse deliberately evokes the memory of Alexander the Great, depicting himself as a semi-divine conqueror with flowing, windswept hair. This popular and desirable series represents the last great example of Hellenistic portraiture.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-pontic-kingdom-mithradates-vi-eupator-the-great-120-63-bc-ar-tetradrachm-32mm-1674-gm-11h-ngc-ms-4/a/3094-33016.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD