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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Alegandron, post: 3015280, member: 51347&quot;]Way cool [USER=44316]@Valentinian[/USER] !&nbsp; His portrait did not drift TOO far in 5-1/2 Centuries...</p><p><br /></p><p>You know me, gotta offer up some coins on the OTHER end of the Roman time spectrum.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Makedon as the Roman Province of Macedonia:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]748543[/ATTACH]</p><p>RR Macedonia occupation Alexander - Club Coin chest Quaestor Chair wreath Aesillas Quaestor AR Tet Thessalonika Mint BC 90-70&nbsp; Alexander with flowing hair!</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin is a bit strange. It bears legends in two different languages. On the obverse Makedonon (&quot;Of the Makedonians&quot;) is written in Greek letters while the reverse features the Latin word Aesillas - the Quester in Roman Macedonia.</p><p><br /></p><p>King Mithradates VI of Pontos started to establish an empire of its own in the east.</p><p>When he attempted to conquer Cappadocia, he came into conflict with another ruler of the east, King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia. Nicomedes asked the Romans for help. The Romans wanted to increase their presence in Asia Minor. Yeah, Imerator / Dictabor Sulla saw his opportunity during the First Mithridatic War!</p><p><br /></p><p>The Romans had to secure supplies. Therefore the Via Egnatia (Roman road) through Thrace and to Asia needed to be secure. The Via Egnatia was arguably the most important strategic route connecting the West and the East.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the first century, a major part of the Via Egnatia crossed areas on which the belligerent tribes of Thrace had some influence. The Romans needed to ensure the Thracians as allies.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Romans were no dummies. They knew that they could just buy the Thracians support. So, they paid the Thracians for staying put and not to harrass the Roman Legions or their supply route. The Romans created the coins in such a way that they could be readily accepted by the Thracians.&nbsp; Since the time of their King Lysimachus, between 305 and 281 BC, the Thracians were used to circulating coins that bore the portrait of Alexander the Great. Therefore, the Romans depicted Alexander with flowing hair and the horn of Ammon.</p><p><br /></p><p>During the time of Aesillas the Via Egnatia allowed the Romans to transport&nbsp; troops, supplies, and money. Mithradates fate was sealed. In 63 BC, the Roman general Pompey cornered him during the Third Mithradatic War. Mithradates saw no other way than to take his own life. Placating the Thracians with payments in generally accepted Alexander coinage enabled troops and arms to freely move from Rome to Asia.&nbsp; The Romans became the unchallenged masters of Asia Minor.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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