A Pontic bronze--Common but Interesting...

This bronze struck under Mithradates VI of Pontos appealed to me based on its styling and artistry. It is rather common and inexpensive in most grades but the details and devices are well defined. It also exhibits obvious 'flan adjustment marks' which seem to add to its appeal rather than detract from it---for me at least LOL. About 20 years or so after this coin was struck, the Romans assumed control of Amisos until about 1200 AD when the Seljuks captured the city. Amisos is modern Samsun in the north coast of Turkey.

AE-22 of Amisos, Pontos; struck 85-65 BC
Laureate head of Zeus right
Eagle standing on thunderbolt, head turned back, opened wings; monogram left
8.29 grams, 22.2 mm; SNG COP 134



Please post anything remotely related

 

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Lovely coin, nice grade. Your just knocking them out today.

I have only this tetradrachm of Mithridates VI.

 

Couple of more things I like about this coin...

It has those Pontic scratches that we see on other Bronze alloy coins of the period.

I like the irregularity of the text. The size and alignment of the letters are all over the place. Any guesses on the reason for these two things?

Also the coin appears to be brass. Interesting.

 

I've chosen 2 coins of Amisos. The first has Nike and Gorgoneion- BMC 1183. The second has Ares and sword in sheath, along a star, crescent and monogram apparently- BMC 1162. Hope they fit.

 

In this regard, my guess is as good as yours---hopefully someone else has run across an explanation.

And I LOVE that Tet....

All coins of Amisos fit 7-C...Very nice examples !!

 

hi Mikey,

one of your best coins,

 

If your coin were a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure, it would definitely be a Rule 12(e) coin.

Uhm, for all non-lawyers, that's a compliment.

 

Nice pick up Mikey. I have no Mithradates VI coins, but I do have some Pontos Amisos coins.

 

WHEW ...Glad you specified the non-lawyer line...I was about to contact my retired 'Union Legal Service Plan'

Wonderful examples Bing!!!! And the second is absolutely gorgeous!! The first has terrific details and devices....

 

Counting the third coin from up to down, do we have a kinda sword in sheath. Why does it look different. Who is that dude on the obverse of that same coin? It seems I have a similar coin which needs to be cleaned.

 

Hmm, if you're referring to Bing's coin with the 'Cista Mystica?' reverse, the obverse seems to depict Mithradates VI as Dionysos.....at least according to some examples on acsearch....

What do you think @Bing ????

 

Yours looks different. Mine is:
AMISOS, PONTOS
Æ17
OBVERSE: Head of Dionysos with ivy-wreath right
REVERSE: AM-ISOS, Thyrsos; monogram to right
Struck at Amisos 85-65 BC
4.0g, 17mm
SNG BM 1192-1195

 

Thanks Bing. I got the answer.. The fact is that I didn't post my similar coin yet.
BTW.. What symbol did the Thyrsos have?

 

Ah, I see I counted from the wrong direction LOL

But the second does seem to be referred to as Mithradtes in the guise of Dionysos---perhaps that is just speculation???

 

It's a shame that I can only hit the like button once. I wish I could give your post 5 or 6 likes, as it definitely deserves them. Beautiful coins, Bing.

 

Both the second and third coins I posted display Dionysos on the obverse.

 

Here's my Mithridates VI, recieved it from ACG as a challenge coin today.
Amisos, Pontos 80 B.C.
AE22, 22mm
Obv: Gorgonian head facing on shield
Rev: MI-ΣOY to left and right of Nike advancing right, holding palm over shoulder; ME monogram to left, VTE monogram to right

 

"Pontic scratches", nice! I have a number of coins from Sinope, a city not far from Amisos, and they have the same abrasions. What are they for?

 

From what I recall and have read, these 'scratches' were the result of flan filing before striking and weren't always covered by the die designs upon actual striking..

 

Wow, Mikey-Z => that's a fantastic OP-Pontos!! (congrats, it's very cool)

I have a fairly similar example-type ... wanna see?



Yah, these are very sweet coin-types ... hey, we're coin-brothers!!

Hey, your awesome example seems to have a "star?" above ... that is very cool (congrats again, dawg)