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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Pontos||View Options:   | | | Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The name was derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea, Pontos Euxeinos ("Hospitable Sea"), or simply Pontos. The extent of the region varied through the ages but generally extended from the borders of Colchis (modern Georgia) until well into Paphlagonia in the west, with varying amounts of hinterland. Several states and provinces bearing the name of Pontus or variants thereof were established in the region in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, culminating in the late Byzantine Empire of Trebizond. Pontus is sometimes considered as the home of the Amazons, with the name Amazon used not only for a city (Amasya) but for all of Pontus in Greek mythology. |
Mithradates VI Eupator "the Great" expanded his Pontic Kingdom through conquest, which inevitably brought him into conflict with Rome. He regarded himself as the champion of the Greeks against Rome, however, after three years of war, he was defeated by Pompey the Great. The design of this coin is taken from a coin of Lysimachos, bodyguard of Alexander the Great, and King of Thrace, 323 - 281 B.C. The Lysimachos coin depicted Alexander the Great on the obverse. The features of the portrait on this type are those of Mithradates VI.SH85133. Gold stater, De Callata˙ p. 141, pl. 37 (D1/R1); AMNG I/II 2477; SNG Cop 1090 (Thrace); HGC 3.2 1931 (R1), VF, die wear, weight 8.395 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 0o, Moesia Inferior, Tomis (Constanta, Romania) mint, First Mithradatic War, 88 - 86 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Alexander the Great (with the features of Mithradates VI), wearing the horn of Ammon; reverse Athena Nikephoros seated left, wearing crested helmet, Nike in extended right hand, resting left elbow on grounded round shield behind, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, ΛYΣIMAXOY downward on left, monogram and V above knee, TO on throne, ornamented trident in exergue; ex CNG e-auction 92 (23 Jun 2004), lot 27; rare; SOLD
Amisos, Pontos, 85 - 65 B.C.
Amisos, the mythical home of the Amazons, was settled c. 760 - 750 B.C. by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. Amisos came under the rule of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, and then the Kingdom of Pontus. The Romans took control in 47 B.C. and Amisos remained within the Byzantine Empire until it was captured by the Seljuks in 1200, to be later taken over by the Ilhanlilar. Amisos today is Samsun, a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey.SH73961. Bronze AE 21, SNG Cop 165; SNGvA 66; SNG BM 1218; SNG Stancomb 704; Rec Gen p. 56, 38; HGC 7 244; Laffaille -, VF, green patina, earthen encrustations, weight 7.574 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 0o, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, Mithridatic War issue, 85 - 65 B.C.; obverse head of Amazon right, wearing wolf scalp headdress; reverse Nike walking right, extending wreath in right hand, palm frond over shoulder in left, AMI-ΣOY horizontal divided across field; scarce; SOLD
Pontic Kingdom, Mithradates VI, c. 120 - 63 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great
The portrait on the obverse bears an unmistakable likeness to Mithridates VI and is similar to his portraits on tetradrachms minted in Pontus. Mithridates likely issued this type during the second Mithridatic War to pay Scythian and Thracian mercenaries.SH24750. Silver tetradrachm, Price 1191 (same dies), Choice gVF, weight 15.978 g, maximum diameter 29.4 mm, die axis 0o, Odessos (Varna, Bulgaria) mint, Second Mithradatic War, 83 - 81 B.C.; obverse Mithradates VI bust right as Herakles in Nemean lion scalp headdress; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left on backless throne, eagle in right, long scepter in left hand, ΛA left, OΔΕ exergue; SOLD
Amisos (as Peiraeos), Pontos, c. 435 - 370 B.C.
Amisos was settled c. 760 - 750 B.C. by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. Amisos came under the rule of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, and then the Kingdom of Pontus. The Romans took control in 47 B.C. and Amisos remained within the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome. In 1200, the city was captured by the Seljuks. Amisos today is Samsun, a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey.GS86613. Silver siglos, SNG BM 1059; SNG Stancomb 660; SNG Cop 122; Rec Gen p. 46, 1; McClean 7351; HGC 7 229; SNGvA -; BMC Pontus -, VF, attractive style, light toning, bumps and scratches, obverse off center but not too detracting, weight 5.593 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 45o, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, c. 435 - 370 B.C.; obverse draped bust of Hera-Tyche right, hair rolled, wearing a turreted stephane ornamented with palmettes and annulets, triple-drop earrings and pearl necklace; reverse owl standing facing on shield, head facing, wings spread open, caduceus upper left, sword in sheath upper right, AΦ-PO (magistrate Aphro...) divided across field below wings, ΠEIPA in exergue; SOLD
Amisos (as Peiraeos), Pontos, c. 435 - 370 B.C.
Amisos was settled c. 760 - 750 B.C. by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. Amisos came under the rule of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, and then the Kingdom of Pontus. The Romans took control in 47 B.C. and Amisos remained within the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome. In 1200, the city was captured by the Seljuks. Amisos today is Samsun, a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey.SH86577. Silver siglos, SNG BM 1059; SNG Stancomb 660; SNG Cop 122; Rec Gén p. 46, 1; McClean 7351; HGC 7 229; SNGvA -; BMC Pontus -, gVF, beautiful style, nice toning, tight flan, some die wear, light bumps and scratches, weight 5.516 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 180o, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, c. 435 - 370 B.C.; obverse draped bust of Hera-Tyche right, hair rolled, wearing a turreted stephane ornamented with palmettes and annulets, triple-drop earrings and pearl necklace; reverse owl standing facing on shield, head facing, wings spread open, caduceus upper left, sword in sheath upper right, AΦ-PO (magistrate Aphro...) divided across field below wings, ΠEIPA in exergue; SOLD
Pontic Kingdom, Mithradates VI, c. 120 - 63 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great
Mithradates VI Megas (the Great) was king of Pontus in northern Anatolia from about 119 to 63 B.C. He was of both Greek and Persian origin, claiming descent from both Alexander the Great and King Darius I of Persia. Mithradates is remembered as one of Rome's most formidable and successful enemies, who engaged three of the most prominent generals of the late Roman Republic in the so-called Mithridatic Wars: Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompey the Great. On this coin, minted in the name of Alexander but with his own portrait replacing that of Herakles (Alexander), Mithradates VI presents himself as Alexander's successor, the "defender" of Greece, and the "great liberator" of the Greek world. His propaganda translated the Romans into "barbarians," as the Persian Empire was during Alexander's campaign. How many Greeks genuinely bought into this claim will never be known but it served its purpose. At least partially because of it, Mithradates VI was able to fight the First War with Rome on Greek soil, and maintain the allegiance of Greece. His campaign for Greek allegiance was aided in no small part by his enemy Sulla, who allowed his troops to sack Delphi and plunder many of the city's most famous treasures to help finance his military expenses. Mithridates likely issued this type during the second Mithridatic War to pay Scythian and Thracian mercenaries. After Mithradates VI was at last defeated by Pompey and in danger of capture by Rome, he attempted suicide. The poison failed because he had taken daily doses to build immunity. He then made his bodyguard and friend, Bituitus, kill him by the sword.SH21578. Silver tetradrachm, Price 1193, VF+, weight 16.162 g, maximum diameter 27.9 mm, die axis 0o, Odessos (Varna, Bulgaria) mint, Second Mithradatic War, 83 - 81 B.C.; obverse Mithradates VI bust right as Herakles in Nemean lion scalp headdress; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left on backless throne, eagle in right, long scepter in left hand, ΛAKΩ left, OΔΗ in exergue; SOLD
Pontic Kingdom, Mithradates VI, c. 120 - 63 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great
The portrait on the obverse bears an unmistakable likeness to Mithridates VI and is similar to his portraits on tetradrachms minted in Pontus. Mithridates likely issued this type during the second Mithridatic War to pay Scythian and Thracian mercenaries.SH33807. Silver tetradrachm, Price 1192; SNG Cop 725, gVF, some flatness on reverse, weight 14.057 g, maximum diameter 29.5 mm, die axis 0o, Odessos (Varna, Bulgaria) mint, c. 120 - 70 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle perched on extended right arm, scepter in left, ΛAK inner left, OΔH in exergue; SOLD
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Amisos, Pontos
The Romans conquered Amisus in 71 B.C. during the Third Mithridatic War and Amisus became part of Bithynia et Pontus province. Around 46 B.C., during the reign of Julius Caesar, Amisus became the capital of Roman Pontus. From the period of the Second Triumvirate up to Nero, Pontus was ruled by several client kings, as well as a queen, Pythodorida of Pontus, a granddaughter of Mark Antony. From 62 A.D. it was directly ruled by Roman governors, most famously by Trajan's appointee Pliny the Younger. The estimated population of the city around 150 A.D. was between 20,000 and 25,000, a large city for that time. The city functioned as the commercial capital for the province of Pontus; beating its rival Sinope due to its position at the head of the trans-Anatolia highway.RS99248. Silver drachm, RPC III 1279 (5 spec.), Recueil Général 91, Nordbř Amisus 5b, BMC Pontus -, gF, dark spots, part of obv. legend unstruck, tiny edge cracks, weight 2.699 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 210o, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, year 167, 135 - 136 A.D.; obverse AYT KAI TPA AΔPI-ANOC CEB Π Π YΠ Γ, laureate head right; reverse AMICOV EΛEVΘEPAC ETOVC PΞZ (Amisos, free city, [year] 167), Hera standing left, wearing diadem, apple in right hand, scepter in left hand; first example of this type handled by Forum, zero sales of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades; very rare; SOLD
Lot of 10 Greek Bronze Coins From Amisos, Pontos, 120 - 63 B.C.
Amisos was settled c. 760 - 750 B.C. by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. Amisos came under the rule of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, and then the Kingdom of Pontus. The Romans took control in 47 B.C. and Amisos remained within the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome. In 1200, the city was captured by the Seljuks, to be later taken over by the Ilhanlilar. Amisos today is Samsun, a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey.LT77411. Bronze Lot, 10 Greek bronze coins, F - VF, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, under rule of Mithradates VI, 120 - 63 B.C.; unattributed to type, no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photographs, as-is, no returns; SOLD
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Amasia, Pontus
Second example of the type known to Forum. Dalaison lists only one example with this reverse, struck with the same die.SH58899. Bronze AE 35, Dalaison 54a (D23/R44), RPC Online -, Rec Gen -, Lindgren -, BMC Pontus -, SNGvA -, SNG Cop -, aVF, weight 24.655 g, maximum diameter 34.9 mm, die axis 180o, Amaseia (Amasya, Turkey) mint, 155 - 156 A.D.; obverse AY KAI T ANTI AΔPI - ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right; reverse [...] M KAI PRW TOU - PONTOU, Hades-Serapis seated left, kalathos on head, wearing himation, with right reaching to Cerberus at his feet left, long scepter vertical behind in left, ET PNZ (year 157) inner left; big 34 mm bronze; extremely rare; SOLD
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