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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lane Walker, post: 4067842, member: 92357&quot;]<img src="https://preview.redd.it/9l6uho1me5f41.png?width=1024&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=ee4046799312915b33a6aefa958b7c75b178ef2c" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><font face="Courier New">Colchis, DiosKourias / Mithridates VI / AE, 17mm, 4.8 gm / 105-90 BC</font></p><p><font face="Courier New">Obv: Two Pileus caps with stars above</font></p><p><font face="Courier New">Rev: ΔΙOΣKOYPIAΔOΣ with thyrsos between</font></p><p><font face="Courier New">Ref: SNG BM Black Sea 1021, Sear 3629</font></p><p><br /></p><p>The transition between Greece and Rome taking center stage was certainly not acute but I find the subject an interesting topic and further feel like Mithridates VI is a notable life to project that transition onto. I came across Mithridates VI first via one of the children of his many concubines which was to be installed and then rule Cappadocia for a time named Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mithridates VI of Pontus should be titled the King of the Black Sea when one considers the expanse of the Kingdom of Pontus during his reign and the cunning ability, at first, to incite the Romans to fight his armies on Greek soil. Having already fallen to Roman rule in 197 BC, Athens even recognized and celebrated the last gasp happening eastward by erecting and dedicating a heroon to Mithridates VI at Delos in 102 BC. Mithridates bested 2 of Rome&#039;s prominent generals: Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Lucullus and finally succumbed to the Roman general Pompey during the third Mithridatic War in 63 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>This little coin is an issue from the time of his empire&#039;s initial expansion and although it does not feature his profile one only has to look as far as the puppet reign of his own son in Cappadocia to get a glimpse of it&#039;s actual King (Mithridates VI). It comes from a province of Colchis called DiosKourias which is on the the eastern rim of the Black Sea. The pileus on the front of this coin is a felt cap that had become emblematic of liberty and the fact that two are featured may be symbolic of the city itself which is said to have been visited by the twin brothers Castor and Pollux from Greek mythology. The constellation Gemini ♊ is based on this famous set of twins.</p><p><br /></p><p>What a fascinating little coin and I&#039;m thrilled to have a connection to so much history!</p><p><br /></p><p>Below I&#039;m including the Cappadocia issue struck under his son&#039;s reign that many think depicts Mithridates IV</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://i.redd.it/mg8plo1h1k941.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><font face="Courier New">Kings of Cappadocia / Ariarathes IX / 18.5 mm, 4.0 gm / AR Drachm / 98-97 B.C. </font></p><p><font face="Courier New">Obv: Diademed head right of Ariarathes IX with the features of Mithradates VI of Pontos </font></p><p><font face="Courier New">Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΡIAΡAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ / Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear and shield. IΠΛ monogram in inner left field</font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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