Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
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Kings of Cappadocia, Orophernes AR Tetradrachm. Priene, circa 159-157 BC. Diademed head to right / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΟΡΟΦΕΡΝΟ[Υ] to left, [ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ] in exergue, to inner left, owl standing to left, head facing, on round altar, above monogram. Simonetta 1; BMC 1; Gulbenkian 1018; Kraay-Hirmer 768; HGC 7, 815; NAC 106, lot 331 (hammer: 220,000 CHF); Lanz 158, lot 290; Gemini II, lot 129. 15.64g, 33mm, 12h.
Near Extremely Fine; somewhat crystallised metal. One of the greatest rarities of Hellenistic portraiture and only the fourth to appear at auction in the past two decades.
"He who on the tetradrachms / appears to be smiling / with a delicate beautiful face / is Orophernes." These words begin a poem by the modern Alexandrian poet C. P. Cavafy (1866-1933) which is testament to the superlative artistry of this rare gem of numismatic Hellenistic portraiture.
The enigmatic Orophernes was one of two illegitimate sons of Antiochis and Ariarathes IV Eusebes, whom ancient accounts report were unable to conceive a child naturally. In an effort to secure their dynasty, Antiochis presented him with baby boys and claimed they were his legitimate children. However, when she later gave birth to the future Ariarathes V Eusebes, she revealed the truth and sent the suppositious sons out of Cappadocia to prevent them from challenging the succession of the legitimate heir to the throne. Orophernes was sent off to the Ionian city of Priene, while his brother was sent to Rome.
After the death of Ariarathes IV in 163 BC, Ariarathes V became king and soon after refused a marriage alliance with the Seleukid king Demetrios I Soter, who ruled in Syria without the sanction of the Roman senate, in an effort to maintain his good relations with Rome. Scorned, Demetrios I happily provided Orophernes with an army to invade and claim the throne of Cappadocia for himself in 158 BC. He succeeded in this ambition, but his time on the throne was brief and characterised by greed and oppression. He reportedly deposited 400 talents at Priene as security against any attempt to overthrow him, but he did not have to wait long for his rule to be contested. The deposed Ariarathes appealed to the Roman senate for support in restoring his throne, and Orophernes was ultimately forced to flee and sought safety with Demetrios I in Syria, where, in an extraordinary display of hubris, he also conspired to overthrow his protector. Demetrios I punished him with perpetual imprisonment in order to hold the threat of his potential release against Ariarathes V.
Upon his return to power, Ariarathes V demanded the return of the 400 talents Orophernes had drained from the kingdom and placed at Priene. The Prieneans refused, unwilling to betray Orophernes, and endured a brutal attack in retaliation. Six tetradrachms were found at Priene beneath the pedestal of the cult statue of Athena in 1870, and were thought to form part of Orophernes' deposit. It has been suggested that the reverse type, with an owl, the symbol of Athena, standing on an altar may indicate that this findspot was the intended location for the coins, thus suggesting that the coins were minted at Priene also. The reverse design is a particular variation on a traditional and oft-repeated reverse type depicting Nike crowning the king's name, which was ultimate derived from Lysimachos' coins (323-281 BC) but here serves to reflect Orophernes' title Nikephoros.
Near Extremely Fine; somewhat crystallised metal. One of the greatest rarities of Hellenistic portraiture and only the fourth to appear at auction in the past two decades.
"He who on the tetradrachms / appears to be smiling / with a delicate beautiful face / is Orophernes." These words begin a poem by the modern Alexandrian poet C. P. Cavafy (1866-1933) which is testament to the superlative artistry of this rare gem of numismatic Hellenistic portraiture.
The enigmatic Orophernes was one of two illegitimate sons of Antiochis and Ariarathes IV Eusebes, whom ancient accounts report were unable to conceive a child naturally. In an effort to secure their dynasty, Antiochis presented him with baby boys and claimed they were his legitimate children. However, when she later gave birth to the future Ariarathes V Eusebes, she revealed the truth and sent the suppositious sons out of Cappadocia to prevent them from challenging the succession of the legitimate heir to the throne. Orophernes was sent off to the Ionian city of Priene, while his brother was sent to Rome.
After the death of Ariarathes IV in 163 BC, Ariarathes V became king and soon after refused a marriage alliance with the Seleukid king Demetrios I Soter, who ruled in Syria without the sanction of the Roman senate, in an effort to maintain his good relations with Rome. Scorned, Demetrios I happily provided Orophernes with an army to invade and claim the throne of Cappadocia for himself in 158 BC. He succeeded in this ambition, but his time on the throne was brief and characterised by greed and oppression. He reportedly deposited 400 talents at Priene as security against any attempt to overthrow him, but he did not have to wait long for his rule to be contested. The deposed Ariarathes appealed to the Roman senate for support in restoring his throne, and Orophernes was ultimately forced to flee and sought safety with Demetrios I in Syria, where, in an extraordinary display of hubris, he also conspired to overthrow his protector. Demetrios I punished him with perpetual imprisonment in order to hold the threat of his potential release against Ariarathes V.
Upon his return to power, Ariarathes V demanded the return of the 400 talents Orophernes had drained from the kingdom and placed at Priene. The Prieneans refused, unwilling to betray Orophernes, and endured a brutal attack in retaliation. Six tetradrachms were found at Priene beneath the pedestal of the cult statue of Athena in 1870, and were thought to form part of Orophernes' deposit. It has been suggested that the reverse type, with an owl, the symbol of Athena, standing on an altar may indicate that this findspot was the intended location for the coins, thus suggesting that the coins were minted at Priene also. The reverse design is a particular variation on a traditional and oft-repeated reverse type depicting Nike crowning the king's name, which was ultimate derived from Lysimachos' coins (323-281 BC) but here serves to reflect Orophernes' title Nikephoros.