Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
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Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Dated Bithyno Pontic Era 223, month 9 = 75/4 BC. Diademed head to right / Stag grazing on ground line to left, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent over monogram to left, ΓΚΣ (year) and monogram to right, Θ (month) below; all within ivy wreath. De Callataÿ pl. IV, D48/R- (this rev. die unlisted); DCA 692; HGC 7, 340. 16.76g, 34mm, 12h.
Good Extremely Fine; a magnificent portrait. Very Rare.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
This coin was struck during the prelude to the Third Mithradatic War, shortly before Mithradates' invasion of Bithynia following King Nicomedes IV's bequest of the kingdom to Rome upon his death in 74 BC. 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 in 63 BC, 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.
Good Extremely Fine; a magnificent portrait. Very Rare.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
This coin was struck during the prelude to the Third Mithradatic War, shortly before Mithradates' invasion of Bithynia following King Nicomedes IV's bequest of the kingdom to Rome upon his death in 74 BC. 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 in 63 BC, 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.