8. Stater Coin, Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, on behalf of Lysimachos, struck in Callatis, approx. 88-86 BCE, gold, museum piece

Obverse: the head of the god Alexander the Great, wearing the horns of Zeus-Amon Reverse: Goddess Athena seated, to the left, holding Nike in her outstretched right hand, with her left hand resting on her shield and holding a spear. The goddess Nike is shown with open wings and holding a laurel wreath in her hands. Under the throne, we find the first three letters of the city where the coin was minted, "KAΛ" (Callatis). Mithridates VI Eupator was a powerful king of Pontus, known for his conflicts with Rome, especially in the Mithridatic Wars. In the period 88-86 BC, Mithridates was in the midst of an intense struggle for expansion and consolidation of his power in the face of Rome. The coin is issued under his authority, but with the name Lysimachos, another great military leader of the Hellenistic world, who had been a general of Alexander the Great and founder of a kingdom in Asia Minor. Lysimachos was a symbolic figure, and the use of his name on the coin reflects a political legitimacy that Mithridates desired to reinforce his authority in the view of the inhabitants and other kingdoms. Callatis, an important Greek colony on the Black Sea coast, was a significant economic and cultural center. By minting coins at Callatis, Mithridates consolidated his influence in the region and established a monetary unit that would be recognized in trade throughout the Pontus and the Black Sea. The stater issued during this period is significant from a numismatic standpoint, being an example of fusion between the Hellenistic legacy and the ambitions of Pontus. The coins minted under Mithridates in the name of other kings or with the image of other monarchs reflect a mixture of political, economic and cultural influences that marked the Hellenistic period and the beginning of its decline. In addition, the coins minted at Callatis are evidence of extensive trade circulation in the Black Sea area and in relations with the Roman Empire, being used by both allies and enemies of Rome. Coins of this type are very sought after today due to their rarity and historical importance. They represent not only a valuable numismatic artifact, but also a direct link with a tumultuous period in the history of the ancient world, being considered excellent investments for collectors of historical coins.

Dimensions

custom d=19 mm

Description

gold

PROVENANCE

The coin was purchased from an auction house in Cologne, Germany. The owner has all the acquisition documents, and copies of these, with personal data and prices removed, will be made available to the buyer.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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