Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ValiantKnight, post: 2652597, member: 44210&quot;]My first coin ever from this Greek-speaking kingdom. In my search a few weeks ago for more Seleucid silver, I discovered Cappadocian coinage. More specifically, I knew it existed, but it didn&#039;t really appeal to me until now. Since the style of the coinage is basically the same as that of the Seleucids, it only seems natural that I gravitated towards Cappadocia (a region in modern-day Turkey for those that don&#039;t know). For now though, with ancient Greek coinage, I&#039;m just fine with picking up whatever grabs my interest. Nothing that will really knock socks off but at least cool and decent stuff that I would still very much enjoy having in my possession, and hopefully you all will find interesting as well.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Ariarathes V</u>, Cappadocian Kingdom</b></p><p>AR drachm</p><p><b>Obv</b>: Diademed head of Ariarathes V right</p><p><b>Rev</b>: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΡIAΡAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ, Athena standing left, holding Nike &amp; resting hand on grounded shield, HDI monogram in outer left field, PAFI monogram in inner left field, regnal year GL (33) in exergue</p><p><b>Mint</b>: (Not specified)</p><p><b>Date</b>: 130 BC</p><p><b>Ref</b>: SG 7286</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]587064[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Facts on Ariarathes V:</p><p><br /></p><ul> <li>Ariarathes Eusebes Philopator ruled the Cappadocian Kingdom from 163 to 130 BC (or 126 BC). His father and predecessor as king was also named Ariarathes (IV). His mother was Antiochis, the daughter of Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>Ariarathes V, whose birth name was Mithridates, was of Greek and Persian heritage, and was a student of the schools of Athens.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>He was well-known for his character, and for his strong interest in philosphy, liberal arts, and Greek culture, and was thought by some as the greatest king Cappadocia ever had.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>His rejection of a marriage with the sister of Seleucid king Demetrius I Soter led to a declaration of war by the latter on the Cappadocian Kingdom, around 158 BC. Ariarathes was forced out of Asia Minor, where a new king had been installed, his brother Orophernes. He found refuge in Rome, and soon after the Romans helped restore Ariarathes as king, but under joint rule with his brother. Later on only Ariarathes is mentioned as king, suggesting this arrangement did not last.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>His wife, Nysa (daughter of the king of Pontus), killed all of their children except for one in a failed bid for the kingdom. She was executed as a result.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>When the kings of Pergamum and Bithynia went to war with each other, Ariarathes decided to back the former, and so he sent his son Demetrius and his army to assist Pergamum. Later on, however, Ariarathes found himself fighting his former allies when he sided with the Romans (his longtime supporters) when they warred with Pergamum. It was this conflict that cost Ariarathes his life in 130/126 BC. He was succeeded by his youngest and only surviving son, Ariarathes VI.</li> </ul><p> <ul> <li>As gratitude for helping to bring about the Roman victory over Pergamum, Ariarathes&#039;s family was awarded Cilicia and Lycaonia.</li> </ul><p>Map of the region around 89 BC:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]587065[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>More info here:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariarathes_V_of_Cappadocia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariarathes_V_of_Cappadocia" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariarathes_V_of_Cappadocia</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Cappadocia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Cappadocia" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Cappadocia</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.livius.org/articles/person/ariarathes-v-eusebes-philopator/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.livius.org/articles/person/ariarathes-v-eusebes-philopator/" rel="nofollow">http://www.livius.org/articles/person/ariarathes-v-eusebes-philopator/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Feel free to contribute anything relevant: coins, info, pictures, etc.</u></b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in