This is my only non-Roman ancient coin. Mithridates VI Eupator (of n oble father) 134-63 BC of Pontus was the King of Pontus from 120-63 BC and was one of Rome's biggest adversaries. In 88 BC he orchestrated a massive massacre across Anatolia, in which cities all across the region rose up and slaughtered every Roman citizen living in their lands. An ingenious move that made all of these cities and it's people tied to him in his coming wars with Rome. He is also sometimes known as megas, or the great. His story is fascinating to me and one of my favorite historical figures. So when I came across this Bronze I simply couldn't pass it up and is one of my favorite coins. Obv: Head of Mithridates VI as Dionysos r, wearing ivy wreath. Rev: AMIEOY, Cista mystica on which rests panther skin and thyrsos, monogram upper left (htpk?). Amisos mint, c.85-65 BC. 20.9mm 8.517g From the little I know of the cult of Dionysus, the Cista mystica was a sacred chest that was used in the initiation ceremony for the cult of Dionysus. The thyrsos was a staff symbolizing prosperity & fertility and also used in the ceremony. And the Panther was a sacred animal to Dionysus.
nice one mithridates, there have been a couple of those around here lately...very cool coins. dig that cytica mystica.
Perhaps one of my all time favorites: AMISOS, PONTOS AE 20 OBVERSE: Head of youthful Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy REVERSE: Thyrsos leaning against cista mystica draped with panther skin; AMISOU below Struck at Amisos 85-65 BC 8.8g, 21mm SNG BM Black Sea 1199-1200; HGC 7, 243
Wow mithradates, that's an awesome new addition! (congrats) ... Ummm sadly, I don't have one of those coin-types, but I do have a couple of pretty sweet examples from good ol' Mithradates VI PONTOS, Amisos. temp. Mithradates VI. Æ20 Circa 85-65 BC Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 8.49 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right Reverse: Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; monogram to left Reference: SNG BM Black Sea 1227-30; SNG Stancomb 706; RG 15; HGC 7, 245 Other: 12h … sweet brown patina From the Demetrios Armounta Collection Pontos, Amisos Æ 26 (Under Mithradates VI Eupator) Circa 120-111 or 100-95 BC Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 21.10 grams Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing bashlik Reverse: AMI-ΣOY across field, quiver and unstrung bow Reference: Callataÿ p. 248, 19; SNG BM 1135-8; Malloy 12; RG 13; Hoover 236 Other: 12 h … Nice surfaces. Attractive brown patina
Great-looking example of the type! There is a cool bit of wartime propaganda being disseminated on this following coin that you might like - Mithridates is the victorious hero Perseus, and Rome is the monstrous gorgon Medusa, decapitated body on the floor gushing blood. PONTOS, Amisos Time of Mithridates VI, circa 85 - 65 BC AE 28. 19.3g, 28mm. SNG Stancomb 683 var. (monograms). O: Head of Athena right, wearing a helmet decorated with Pegasus springing right. R: AMISOY, Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet gushing blood, monograms in left and right field.
Okay, but you took the gloves-off first, my friend ... let's dance!! => is that Pontos enuf for ya?!! Just jokes ... wow, that's an awesome coin, Z-Bro!!
Okay then I'm going to trot out my decapitation coins too We had quite a run of these on CoinTalk last year, didn't we? The ball started rolling and we all had to get one. Same thing with COL NEMS, and I've noticed that the price of those seems to have markedly increased. Do you think it's in part because of all the forum talk-- increasing market demand?
=> hmmm, I'm not 100% sure ... ummm, but I'm glad that I scored my examples fairly early in the coin-scramble!! (but yah, I doubt that our friendly lil' group is large enough to rattle the ancient-price cages?)
Our friendly group is little but there are manyfold more lurkers than posters and many of us post the same thing on multiple ancient coin forums. I think we are capable of creating a buzz
Well, I'm no longer the only one collecting Nabataeans, so there may be something to it. But seriously, you don't have to succumb to peer pressure. You don't have to be cool either, haha.
I really like those Perseus and medusa decapitation coins and what they are meant to represent as well! Gotta say I'm slightly jealous! Lol
