The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
61. Stater Coin, Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, in the name of Lysimachos, struck at Callatis, around 88-86 BC, gold, exceptional piece
Selling price
Pretul de pornire si cel estimat nu sunt preturi de vanzare efective
EUR 6.000
Session
Wed, 24 September 2025 18:00
Obverse: the head of the god Alexander the Great wearing the horns of Zeus-Amon. Reverse: the goddess Athena seated to the left, holding in her extended right hand Nike, with her left hand resting on the shield and holding the spear. The goddess Nike is represented with wings open and holds a laurel wreath in her hands. Underneath the throne, we find the first three letters of the name of the city where this piece was minted, “KAΛ” (Callatis).
Mithridates VI Eupator was a powerful king of Pontus, well-known for his conflicts with Rome, particularly in the Mithridatic Wars. Between 88-86 BCE, Mithridates found himself amid an intense struggle for expansion and consolidation of his power against 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 creator of a kingdom in Asia Minor. Lysimachos was a symbolic figure; the use of his name on the coin indicates a political legitimacy that Mithridates sought in order to strengthen his authority among the locals and other kingdoms.
Callatis, an important Greek colony on the coast of the Black Sea, was a significant economic and cultural center. By minting coins in Callatis, Mithridates consolidated his influence in the region and established a monetary unit that would be recognized in the trade throughout Pontus and the Black Sea.
The stater issued during this period is significant numismatically, being an example of a merger between Hellenistic heritage and Pontic ambitions. Coins issued under Mithridates in the name of other kings or bearing the image of other monarchs reflect a blend of political, economic, and cultural influences that marked the Hellenistic period and the beginning of its decline. Moreover, the coins minted in Callatis are evidence of the extensive commercial circulation in the Black Sea area and relations with the Roman Empire, being used by both allies and enemies of Rome.
Coins of this type are currently highly sought after due to their rarity and historical importance. They represent not just a valuable numismatic artifact but also a direct link to a tumultuous period in the ancient world's history, making them excellent investments for collectors of historic coins.
Dimensions
custom d=18 mm
Description
gold
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Detalii
Obverse: the head of the god Alexander the Great wearing the horns of Zeus-Amon. Reverse: the goddess Athena seated to the left, holding in her extended right hand Nike, with her left hand resting on the shield and holding the spear. The goddess Nike is represented with wings open and holds a laurel wreath in her hands. Underneath the throne, we find the first three letters of the name of the city where this piece was minted, “KAΛ” (Callatis).
Mithridates VI Eupator was a powerful king of Pontus, well-known for his conflicts with Rome, particularly in the Mithridatic Wars. Between 88-86 BCE, Mithridates found himself amid an intense struggle for expansion and consolidation of his power against 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 creator of a kingdom in Asia Minor. Lysimachos was a symbolic figure; the use of his name on the coin indicates a political legitimacy that Mithridates sought in order to strengthen his authority among the locals and other kingdoms.
Callatis, an important Greek colony on the coast of the Black Sea, was a significant economic and cultural center. By minting coins in Callatis, Mithridates consolidated his influence in the region and established a monetary unit that would be recognized in the trade throughout Pontus and the Black Sea.
The stater issued during this period is significant numismatically, being an example of a merger between Hellenistic heritage and Pontic ambitions. Coins issued under Mithridates in the name of other kings or bearing the image of other monarchs reflect a blend of political, economic, and cultural influences that marked the Hellenistic period and the beginning of its decline. Moreover, the coins minted in Callatis are evidence of the extensive commercial circulation in the Black Sea area and relations with the Roman Empire, being used by both allies and enemies of Rome.
Coins of this type are currently highly sought after due to their rarity and historical importance. They represent not just a valuable numismatic artifact but also a direct link to a tumultuous period in the ancient world's history, making them excellent investments for collectors of historic coins.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
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