Cappadocian Upgrade

I could quickly, with some luck, upgrade my last silver drachm of Cappadocian king Ariozbarzanes I. In fact these small coins seem to be scarce at fair condition. With Athena on reverse, it has MT-like monogram in left field and Lambda in exergue. The coin weighs 4.07 g. SNG Cop 154. BMC 17.

 

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Nice coin.

 

Very nice! Well done, Charles!

 

Good job. These are almost always poorly struck, and almost always struck from worn dies.

 

I once had two but sold one because I preferred the date on the two digit year 28 over the one digit 30. I seem attracted to year dated coins.

 

Nice example!

I like that Ariobarzanes, quite untypically for a Hellenistic ruler, is portrayed as an aging gentleman instead of a young hero in his prime.


Ariobarzanes I. Philorhomaios, Kingdom of Cappadocia, AR drachm, 66/65 BC, Eusebeia mint. Obv: Diademed head right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ APIOBAPZANOY ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY, Athena standing left, holding shield, spear and Nike; to left monogram, Λ in exergue (off flan). 17mm, 4.3g. Ref: Simonetta 1977, no. 43.

 

Very nice coin! I like his distinct old man portrait.

Some coins of other Cappadocian rulers:

Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator (circa 100-85 B.C.) AR Drachm. Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 4 (97/6 BC).
Obverse: Diademed head right, with the features of Mithradates VI of Pontos.
Reverse: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ APIAPAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ, Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left, Δ (date) in exergue.
Reference: Simonetta 3a


Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator (circa 100-85 B.C.) AR Drachm. Mint B (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 13 or 15 (88/7 or 86/5 BC).
Obverse: Diademed head right, with Mithradatic style portrait.
Reverse: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ APIAPAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ, Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left, [date in exergue].
Reference: Callataÿ p. 181, obv. die D37 var. (slightly different monogram);


Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator (130-116 B.C.). Imitation AR Tetradrachm in the name of Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes) (138-129 B.C.). Cappadocian mint. Unmarked issue, perhaps dated Year 1.
Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos VII to right.
Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟY - EYEPΓETOY Athena standing front, head to left, holding Nike in her right hand and spear and shield in her left; to outer left, monogram above A; all within wreath.
Reference: Early Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Antiochus VII (Elke Krengel, Catharine C. Lorber). Mint IV, emission 11, engraver X. Plate 18, 668 (same P4 reverse die).
15.82g; 28mm.

 

CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM: Ariarathes V
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Diademed head of Ariarathes V right
REVERSE: Athena standing left, holding Nike & resting hand on grounded shield, HDI monogram in outer left field, PAFI monogram in inner left field, HF monogram in outer right field, date GL in exergue
Struck at Cappadocia, Year 33 (= 130 BC)
4.2g, 18mm
SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 673–678. Simonetta p. 24, 20b

ARIOBARZANES I PHILOROMAIOS; KINGS of CAPPADOCIA
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Diademed head right
REVERSE: Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left
Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka) 68-67 BC
3.73 g, 16mm
Simonetta, Coins 38s