- The Collaborative Numismatics Project
  Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!! NumisWiki Is An Enormous Unique Resource Including Hundreds Of Books And Thousands Of Articles Online!!! The Column On The Left Includes Our "Best of NumisWiki" Menu If You Are New To Collecting - Start With Ancient Coin Collecting 101 NumisWiki Includes The Encyclopedia of Roman Coins and Historia Nummorum If You Have Written A Numismatic Article - Please Add It To NumisWiki All Blue Text On The Website Is Linked - Keep Clicking To ENDLESSLY EXPLORE!!! Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin You Love Today!!!

× Resources Home
Home
New Articles
Most Popular
Recent Changes
Current Projects
Admin Discussions
Guidelines
How to
zoom.asp
Index Of All Titles


BEST OF

AEQVITI
Aes Formatum
Aes Rude
The Age of Gallienus
Alexander Tetradrachms
Ancient Coin Collecting 101
Ancient Coin Prices 101
Ancient Coin Dates
Ancient Coin Lesson Plans
Ancient Coins & Modern Fakes
Ancient Counterfeits
Ancient Glass
Ancient Metal Arrowheads
Ancient Oil Lamps
Ancient Pottery
Ancient Weapons
Ancient Wages and Prices
Ancient Weights and Scales
Anonymous Follis
Anonymous Class A Folles
Antioch Officinae
Aphlaston
Armenian Numismatics Page
Augustus - Facing Portrait
Brockage
Bronze Disease
Byzantine
Byzantine Denominations
A Cabinet of Greek Coins
Caesarean and Actian Eras
Campgates of Constantine
Carausius
A Case of Counterfeits
Byzantine Christian Themes
Clashed Dies
Codewords
Coins of Pontius Pilate
Conditions of Manufacture
Corinth Coins and Cults
Countermarked in Late Antiquity
Danubian Celts
Damnatio Coinage
Damnatio Memoriae
Denomination
Denarii of Otho
Diameter 101
Die Alignment 101
Dictionary of Roman Coins
Doug Smith's Ancient Coins
Draco
Edict on Prices
ERIC
ERIC - Rarity Tables
Etruscan Alphabet
The Evolving Ancient Coin Market
EQVITI
Fel Temp Reparatio
Fertility Pregnancy and Childbirth
Fibula
Flavian
Fourree
Friend or Foe
The Gallic Empire
Gallienus Zoo
Greek Alphabet
Greek Coins
Greek Dates
Greek Coin Denominations
Greek Mythology Link
Greek Numismatic Dictionary
Hellenistic Names & their Meanings
Hasmoneans
Hasmonean Dynasty
Helvetica's ID Help Page
The Hexastyle Temple of Caligula
Historia Numorum
Holy Land Antiquities
Horse Harnesses
Illustrated Ancient Coin Glossary
Important Collection Auctions
Islamic Rulers and Dynasties
Julian II: The Beard and the Bull
Julius Caesar - The Funeral Speech
Koson
Kushan Coins
Later Roman Coinage
Latin Plurals
Latin Pronunciation
Legend
Library of Ancient Coinage
Life in Ancient Rome
List of Kings of Judea
Medusa Coins
Maps of the Ancient World
Military Belts
Military Belts
Mint Marks
Monogram
Museum Collections Available Online
Nabataea
Nabataean Alphabet
Nabataean Numerals
The [Not] Cuirassed Elephant
Not in RIC
Numismatic Bulgarian
Numismatic Excellence Award
Numismatic French
Numismatic German
Numismatic Italian
Numismatic Spanish
Parthian Coins
Patina 101
Paleo-Hebrew Alphabet
Paleo-Hebrew Script Styles
People in the Bible Who Issued Coins
Imperial Mints of Philip the Arab
Phoenician Alphabet
Pi-Style Athens Tetradrachms
Pricing and Grading Roman Coins
Reading Judean Coins
Representations of Alexander the Great
Roman Coin Attribution 101
Roman Coin Legends and Inscriptions
Roman Keys
Roman Locks
Roman Militaria
Roman Military Belts
Roman Mints
Roman Names
romancoin.info
Rome and China
Sasanian
Satyrs and Nymphs
Scarabs
Serdi Celts
Serrated
Siglos
The Sign that Changed the World
Silver Content of Parthian Drachms
Star of Bethlehem Coins
Statuary Coins
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum
Syracusian Folles
Taras Drachms with Owl Left
The Temple Tax
The Temple Tax Hoard
Test Cut
Travels of Paul
Tribute Penny
Tribute Penny Debate Continued (2015)
Tribute Penny Debate Revisited (2006)
Tyrian Shekels
Uncleaned Ancient Coins 101
Vabalathus
Venus Cloacina
What I Like About Ancient Coins
Who was Trajan Decius
Widow's Mite
XXI

   View Menu
 


Pontos (Pontus)

Ancient Coins from Pontos in the Forum Ancient Coins shop

Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (London, 1992 - ).
Dalaison, J. L'atelier d'Amaseia du Pont: recherches historiques et numismatiques. (Bordeaux, 2008).
de Callataÿ, F. L'histoire des guerres Mithridatiques vue par les monnaies. (Louvain-La-Neuve, 1997).
Dalaison, J. "L'atelier monétaire de Nicopolis en Arménie Mineure" in Espaces et pouvoirs dans l'Antiquité De l’Anatolie à la Gaule. (Crhipa, 2007).
Hoover, O. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Anatolia, Pontos, Paphlagonia, Bithynia...5th to 1st Centuries BC. HGC 7. (Lancaster, PA, 2012).
Imhoof-Blumer, F. Griechische Münzen: Neue Beiträge und Untersuchungen. (Munich, 1890).
Imhoof-Blumer, F. Kleinasiatische Münzen. (Vienna, 1901-2).
Lindgren, H. & F. Kovacs. Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant. (San Mateo, 1985).
Lindgren, H. Lindgren III: Ancient Greek Bronze Coins. (Quarryville, 1993).
Müller, L. Die Münzen Des Thracishen Konigs Lysimacus. (Copenhagen, 1858).
Price, M.J. The Coinage in the name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. (Zurich-London, 1991).
RPC Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. 2: Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 4: Bosporus - Lesbos. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 1: Pontus, Paphlagonia, Bithynia, Mysia, Troas, Aiolis, Lesbos, Ionia. (Berlin, 1957).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain IV, Fitzwilliam Museum, Leake and General Collections, Part 6: Asia Minor: Pontus-Phrygia. (London, 1965).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain V, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Part 11: Caria to Commagene (except Cyprus). (London, 2013).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain IX, British Museum, Part 1: The Black Sea. (London, 1993).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XI, The William Stancomb Collection of Coins of the Black Sea Region. (Oxford, 2000).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XIII, British Academy, Collection of the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle Upon Tyne. (Oxford, 2005).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Österreich, Sammlung Leypold, Kleinasiatische Münzen der Kaiserzeit, Vol. I: Pontus – Lydien. (Vienna, 2000).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Schweiz II. Münzen der Antike. Katalog der Sammlung Jean-Pierre Righetti im Bernischen Historischen Museum. (Bern, 1993).
Topalov, S. Apollonia Pontica: Contribution to the Study of the Coin Minting of the City 6th - 1st c. B.C. (Sofia, 2007).
Topalov, S. Messambria Pontica: Contribution to the Study the Coin Minting of the City, 5th-1st C. BC. (Sofia, 1995).
Victoor, R. Roulles Celtes et Objets Assimilés. (Rosendaël-lez-Dunkerque, 1989).
Waddington, W., E. Babelon & T. Reinach. Recueil Général des Monnaies Grecques d'Asie Mineure, Vol I, Part 1: Pont et Paphlagonie. (Paris, 1904).
Wroth, W. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Bithynia. (London, 1889).

Koinon of Pontus. After the formation of Pontus Galaticus (B.C. 2 and A.D. 1), the towns of this territory probably formed a Koinon Κοινον under the headship of Amasia. When, in its turn, Pontus Polemoniacus was incorporated, it formed a new Koinon Κοινον, of which the capital was Neocaesareia. The two Koina Κοινα afterwards became one, and the coins of the Koinon Pontou Κοινον Ποντου were struck at Neocaesareia (q. v.). The following were also probably struck at Neocaesareia: — rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΠΟΝΤΟΥ, Tetra- style temple, of M. Aurelius, also of L. Verus; with dates reckoned from A.D. 64-5, the year of the annexation of Pontus Polemoniacus. (On the Koinon see Rec Gén., p. 25 f.)

Amasia or Amaseia, the birthplace of Mithradates the Great and of Strabo, was a strongly fortified town on the river Iris. Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscription, ΑΜΑΣΕΙΑΣ.

ImperialDomitian to Severus Alexander. Inscription, ΑΜΑCΙΑC, usually with addition of various surnames, honorific titles, dates, etc., e. g. ΑΔΡ (Hadriana), CЄV (Severiana), ΑΝΤ (Antoniniana), ΑΛЄΞ (Alexandriana), ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛЄΩC ΠΟΝΤΟΥ, ΠΡΩΤΗC ΤΟΥ ΠΟΝΤΟΥ, ΝЄΩΚΟΡΩΝ, mostly abbreviated. On a coin of Sept. Severus occurs the legend ЄΡΜΗC ΚΤΙCΑC ΤΗΝ ΠΟΛΙΝ, showing that Hermes was revered as oekist. Era begins B.C. 2 (Z. f. N., 1906, p. 342). Types, A large altar, often burning, with a tree beside it; on or above altar, victim, eagle, chariot; probably altar of Zeus Stratios (Rec Gén., p. 27; Cumont, Studia Pontica, 1906, p. 177); View of Amasia (BMC Pontus, p. xvii); Aphrodite and Ares (Imh., G. M., p. 560, No. 3); Tyche; Seated Hades; Hades and Kerberos (Rec Gén., No. 69).

Amisus (Eski Samsun), next after Sinope the most flourishing Greek port on the south coast of the Euxine, was recolonized from Athens, probably in the middle of the fifth century, and its name changed to Peiraeeus.

Fourth century B.C. Persic standard.
Female head in turreted stephane. ΠΕΙΡΑ, ΠΕΙΡΑΕ, ΠΕΙΡΑΙ, ΠΕΙΡΑΙΩΝ, Owl on shield. Magistrates' names and symbols [Rec Gén., p. 44 f.]
AR Dr. 86 grs.

After the time of Alexander, the town issued silver of similar types but without the town-name (drachms and triobols of Rhodian weight). Traces of the authority of the Pontic kings are found on these coins, as in ΒΑ (silissaes σιλισσης) ΛΑ(odikaes οδικης), also on the Æ of the same period (Rec Gén.).

Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator. Inscribed, ΑΜΙΣΟΥ (rarely ΣΑΜΙΣΟΥ and ΣΑΜΙΣΟΗΣ, Z. f. N., ii. p. 29). In addition to the civic coinages of Mithradates, described under his name, infra, the following were struck at Amisus:—obv. Head of Artemis, rev. Quiver with strap; obv. Head of Dionysos, rev. Cista and thyrsos; obv. Cista and thyrsos, rev. Panther holding stag's head; obv. Head of Dionysos, rev. Quiver; obv. Female head in wolf's skin (Amazon Lykastia ?), rev. Herakles, Nike (see Imhoof-Blumer Griechische, p. 570); obv. Head of Apollo, rev. Roma and Eirene (?), circ. B.C. 84 (see G. M., p. 569).

In the first century B.C. the Proconsuls of Bithynia, C. Papirius Carbo, B.C. 61-59, and C. Caecilius Cornutus, B.C. 56 (G. M., p. 562), place their names upon Æ coins: obv. ΑΜΙΣΟΥ Head of Roma, rev. Roma. (ΡΩΜΗ) seated on shields holding Nike.

ImperialAugustus to Saloninus (some quasi-autonomous, G. M., p. 570 f.). There are AR from Hadrian to Antoninus, wt. 144, 96, 48 grs. (cf. G. M., p. 572). Inscription, ΑΜΙCΟΥ, nearly always with ЄΛЄΥΘЄΡΑC added. Types, Athena, Asklepios, Demeter, Dionysos, Poseidon, Hermes, etc.; Capricorn; Tyche of Amisus placing rudder on head of Thalassa (Imhoof KM, i. p. 1, No. 4); River-god ΘЄΡΜΩΔΩΝ (R. N., 1900, p. 126); Temple and altar with mountains behind (Imhoof GM, p. 571). Era dates from autumn of B.C. 32, at which time Amisus was freed from its tyrant Straton by Augustus (Z. f. N., xx. p. 257; Pauly-Wissowa, s. v. 'Aera', p. 644; Rec Gén., p. 44).

Cabeira (Niksar), in the valley of the Lycus, was the chief seat of the worship of the god Mên Pharnakou. Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscr., ΚΑΒΗΡΩΝ. c. B.C. 65 the name was changed by Pompey to Diospolis, and Æ inscribed ΔΙΑΣ appear to have been issued with Mithradatic types: obv. Head of Zeus, rev. Eagle; obv. Head of Dionysos, rev. Cista and thyrsos (Imhoof GM, p. 574; but see infra under Dia in Bithynia). In Imperial times it bore the name Neocaesareia. Imperial (see BMC Pontus; Imhoof-Blumer Griechische; Rec Gén.) Trajan to Gallienus. Also quasi-autonomous of Domitian. Inscr., ΝЄΟΚΑΙCΑΡЄΙΑC; ΝЄΟΚΑΙC; also ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΠΟΝΤΙΥ (see supra, Koinon of Pontus); ΜΗΤΡΟΠ; ΑΔΡ; ΔΙC ΝΕΩΚΟΡ. Games, ΑΚΤΙΑ. Era, Oct., A.D. 64. Types, Temple, within which, sometimes, statue, radiate bust, altar. Agonistic table, wreath, etc. Dioskuri standing at altar. Athena (with name of Roman official Aufidius Umber; Imhoof-Blumer KM, ii. p. 499). Group of Tyche of Neocaesareia with river-god at her feet and five female figures = the cities of the Koinon Pontou Κοινον Ποντου with their metropolis Neocaesareia (see BMC Pontus; Imhoof-Blumer Griechische, p. 578; Rec Gén., p. 86).

Cerasus (Kiresoun), on the coast west of Trapezus. Perhaps the same town as Pharnaceia (q. v.) (Rec Gén., p. 74 and p. 99). Imperial, Æ Hadrian to Severus Alexander. Inscribed, ΚЄΡΑCΟΥΝΤΙ ΩΝ. Era, Oct., A.D. 64. Types: Herakles standing; Galley; Seated Goddess with cornucopia; Pan, etc.

Chabacta, in Strabo's time, was a dependency of Amisus. Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscribed, ΧΑΒΑΚΤΩΝ.

Comana (near Gumenek), on the Iris, called'Pontica' to distinguish it from the Cappadocian Comana, was famed for its cultus of the goddess Mâ or Enyo, the high priest of whose temple ranked next in dignity to the king of Pontus (cf. R. N., 1886, p. 443). Under the Romans the place bore the additional name of Hierocaesareia.

Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscr., ΚΟΜΑΝΩΝ. Imperial and quasi-autonomous—Time of Caligula, obv. Head of Enyo, rev. ΚΟΜΑΝΩΝ Club (Z. f. N., xx. p. 261, No. 1); Nerva, rev. ΚΟΜΑΝΩΝ, Club; Sept. Severus and family, Inscr., ΙЄΡΟΚΑΙCΑ ΚΟΜ ΑΝЄ(ΩΝ), Types; Temple, within which Enyo radiate, standing, holding shield and club (Z. f. N., xx. p. 262, No. 2); also, Nike in temple. Era dates from Oct., A.D. 34 (N. C., 1902, p. 2; 1904, p. 101 f.; cf. Rec Gén., p. 78).

Gaziura (Turkhal), on the Iris, one of the residences of the kings of Pontus, but deserted in the time of Strabo (xii. 547). For the silver coins of the dynast Ariarathes I, struck there, see Kings of Cappadocia. Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscription, ΓΑΖΙΟΥΡΩΝ.

Haemilium (?) or Aemilium, known only from coins. Æ of first century B.C. Obv. Head of Tyche of city, rev. Fulmen; above, Crescent and star; obv. Head of Apollo, rev. Similar. Size .9. Inscribed, ΑΙΜΙΛΙΟΥ. (Z. f. N., xx. p. 271; Rec Gén., p. 26.)

Laodiceia. Modern Ladik, between Amisus and Amasia. Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscr., ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΙΑΣ. Types: Aegis, rev. Nike walking; Head of Ares, rev. Sword in sheath; Head of young Dionysos, rev. Thyrsos (Z. f. N., xx. p. 263; cf. R. N., 1900, p. 228).

Neocaesareia. See Cabeira.

Nicopolis ad Lycum (near Piourkh, Purgos Πυργος). Founded by Pompey, circ. B.C. 65, in memory of his victory over Mithradates Eupator (Imhoof KM, i. 3; Rec Gén., p. 97; Cumont, Studia Pontica, 1906, p. 306). ImperialTrajan; Hadrian. Inscr., ΝЄΙΚΟΠΟΛЄWC, and ЄΤΟVC'34' and'42'; also ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤWΝ ΑΔΡΙΑΝ...; cf. C. I. G., 4189. Types: Zeus seated holding Nike; Nike; Wreath; Serpent on Altar; Young head, laureate. Era, Oct., A.D. 64.

Peiraeeus. See Amisus.

Pharnaceia, on the Black Sea, west of Trapezus (perhaps the same town as Cerasus; see Rec Gén., pp. 74, 99). Æ, Second or first century B.C. Inscr., ΑΡΝΑΚΕΩΝ, Bust of Mên, rev. Star (Imhoof KM, I. p. 5); Bust of Zeus, rev. Zebu. Also Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator, Bust of Zeus, rev. ΑΡΝΑΚΕΙΑΣ, Eagle on fulmen. (According to R. N., 1900, p. xx, Imperial of Caracalla; cf. Imhoof, op. cit., ii. p. 500).

Pimolisa. See infra under Paphlagonia.

Sebasteia (Siwas), on the Halys. Imperial—L. Verus to Valerian. Inscr., CЄΒΑCΤΗΝΩ, CЄΒΑCΤΙΑC ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛЄΩC. Types: Roma seated; Demeter. Era begins between B.C. 2-1 and A.D. 1-2, probably B.C. 2-1. (Imhoof KM, p. 5; Rec Gén., p. 101.)

Sebastopolis-Heracleopolis (Sulu-Seraï), on the Scylax. ImperialTrajan to Gallienus. Inscr., CЄΒΑCΤΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, CЄΒΑCΤΟΠΟΛЄΩC (Trajan); later, CЄΒΑCΤΟ. ΗΡΑΚ., CЄΒΑCΤΟΠΟ. ΗΡΑΚΑЄΟΠΟ., CЄΒΑCΤΟ. ΗΡΑΚΛЄΟΠ. Types: Nearly all relate to Herakles and his labors; Statue of Herakles in temple, etc. See Imhoof GM, etc. Roman Magistrate, P. C. Ruso (N. Z., 1891, p. 71). Era dates from B.C. 3 (October). (N. C., 1902, p. 184; 1904, p. 101; Z. f. N., 1906, p. 339; cf. Rec Gén., p. 102.)

Taulara (Taourla, R. N., 1900, p. 230). Æ of reign of Mithradates Eupator (q. v.). Inscr., ΤΑΥΛΑΡΩΝ.

Trapezus (Trebizond), on the south coast of the Euxine. The rev. type of the following coins, a table, is obviously a type parlant (trapezaτραπεζα). Fourth century B.C. Persic standard.

Male head, with close beard (Hermes ?).
[Num. Chron., 1871, Pl. VI. 3, 4.]
ΤΡΑ Table, on which bunch of grapes
AR Dr. 88 grs.; Diob. 22 grs., with-out grapes.

ImperialTrajan to Philip jun. Inscr., ΤΡΑΠЄΖΟΥΝΤΙΩΝ. Era 64 A.D. Types: Hermes, Dionysos, Sarapis, Tyche, etc.; especially Mithras, who is often represented on horseback: see Imh., G. M., p. 582 f.; Z. f. N., xx. 266; and Rec. Gén., p. 107, for the Mithraeum of Trapezus.

Zela (Zilleh), one of the chief seats of the cultus of the goddess Anaïtis, the high priest of whose temple was the ruler of Zela and its territory.

Imperial—A coin of Trajan with'Zeus Epikarpios' is perhaps false or wrongly attributed (Rec Gén., p. 116). Sept. Severus and family. Views of temple (of Anaïtis) (BMC Pontus; Z. f. N., xii. 308); Male figure seated holding ears of corn (N. C., v. 185); Ears of corn (Z. f. N., xx. 266); Two towers and an arcade (Rec Gén., No. 11). Inscr., ΖΗΛΙΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΝΤΟΥ (abbrev.). Era, 64 A.D.

All coins are guaranteed for eternity