Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the Roman Senate rejected the claims of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia and was supported by the Roman Consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He was in control on-and-off of a kingdom that was considered a Roman protectorate and he was removed three separate times by King Mithridates before not only securing but actually increasing his lands under general Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War. He eventually abdicated, making way for the rule of his son Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia in c. 63 BC–62 BC. Ariobarzanes' queen was a Greek noblewoman, Athenais Philostorgos I. Athenais bore Ariobarzanes I two children: a son, Ariobarzanes II, who succeeded him, and a daughter, Isias Philostorgos, who married the King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene. CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM. Ariobarzanes I Philoromaeus (96-63 BC). AR drachm (17mm, 12h). NGC AU. Eusebeia under Mount Argaeus, dated Year 28 (68/7 BC). Diademed head of Ariobarzanes I right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ-ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡZΑΝΟΥ-ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ, Athena standing left, Nike in right hand, left hand resting on grounded shield, spear behind; XAI monogram in inner left field, KH (date) below. HGC 7, 846. Simonetta 38d.
Very nice coin! I like Ariobarzanes' use of the epithet "Philoromaios" in the legend- he knew which regional power would ultimately win and he chose wisely. I have a specimen of this issue I bought from Wayne Sayles a couple of years ago; the portrait is good, but because it's so close to the edge of the flan (without cutting off any design, though Ariobarzanes' chin whiskers are getting a good shave) it's considered less attractive and I got a good deal:
LOL yeah I gotta say I love the “Philoromaios” epithet too. If my translation is correct it means: Philos: Love Romaios: Romans So it would be “Lover of Romans”. xD I actually got a great deal on this one too. I didn’t plan on bidding on it at all but when I saw the bid was so low I did and won.
