I recently purchased a couple of Pontos coins of the 'Star' (or Comet) design, from 130-100 B.C. I am unfamiliar with these coins, and I was hoping that someone could tell me more about them, please? (If I am not mistaken, the 'Star' design is similar to the design on some of my 'Prutahs'.) AE 11 mm., 1.15 gm. and AE 15 mm., 1.78 gm.
Here's my writeup on this coin that was unsold in AMCC 2: PONTOS, under Mithridates VI (120-65 BCE), issued c. 120-100 BCE. 1.30g, 10mm Obv: Head of horse right, with star of eight points on its neck Rev: Comet star of eight points with trail to right. SNG BM Black Sea 984 Rare. Lovely depiction of a comet on the reverse. It was commonly accepted that both the birth and beginning of the reign of Mithridates VI, the famous enemy of the Roman Republic, were marked by the appearance of brilliant comets. Chinese records actually support the view that there was a supernova in 134 and a comet in 120. It is likely that this coin depicts those important portents; interestingly, the obverse star lacks a tail, in keeping with the supernova hypothesis.
The best one I've seen is https://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=51&pid=12766 There was a thread about these: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/mithridates-vi-of-pontus-comet-coin.315874/
I think your coins are a different type, the obverse star has extra points around it+ the reverse looks different.
Here's my comet, 12 mm and 1.45 gr. But Arnoldoe's right, your OP stars look both a bit different from the others shown here.
(@arnoldoe - I think that you are right.) The first coin has 'pellets' around the 'Star'(burst)/Comet, and the 'reverse' appears to my (old) eyes to depict a man riding a Bull (Horse?) I cannot find anything similar on 'CNG", 'Acsearch', 'Asia Minor Coins', 'Wildwinds', or any other site. Therefore I wonder if indeed it is 'Pontos'? The second coin, I am prepared to accept is an example of Star(burst)/Comet, with countermark on Quiver on the 'reverse'. (Roll photo of 'reverse' 90 degrees to the right.) (Similar to: . . . . .)
https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=332773 IBERIA, Malaka. Late 3rd century BC. Æ Quarter Unit (13mm, 2.81 g). Head of Vulcan right, wearing cap / Eight-rayed star with intercalations; central pellet. ACIP 780; SNG BM Spain 388-90. VF, pale green patina.
I don't believe Spain. It resembles the Pontos "leather cap" coins. https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=159214
