Phaphlagonia, Sinope

125 - 120 BC
AE 17 mm, 3.57 grams, 0 degrees

O: Veiled bust of Laodike right, star countermark to left
R: ΣΙΝΩΠΗΣ, facing statue of Apollo Iatros holding branch over tripod and phiale

Ref: SNG Black Sea 1542; HGC 7 423 (references do not include countermark).

Ex- Marc Breitsprecher, Feb 2023; ex-Chicago family collection; ex-Elie Boudeau, Paris dealer, includes his tag from before 1912.

Notes: Good Fine+. Very interesting coin and pedigree. Very rare (Hoover rarity is R2); minted under Mithradates V and there is only one official royal coin of Mithradates V. Sinope was the capital of Pontos at this point and had been conquered in the 180's BC. The countermark seems to be even more rare and the star countermark is associated with Pontos and the royal family of Pontos. On AcSearch, only four specimens exist from 2016 to 2023, three do not have the countermark. Fascinating coin in so many ways. Needs more research by me.

On the dealer, Elie Boudeau: tag dating prior to 1912 - with dealer name, coin description and price (1.00 franc, about 20 cents) hand-written in French with an ink pen. Élie Boudeau (1853-1912) was a politician and numismatist in late 19th century-early 20th century Paris. He served in the 5th legislature of the Third French Republic from 12 November 1889 to 14 October 1893. He owned a shop in the numismatic district of Paris at 11 Rue Rameau, only a stones throw from the Bibliotheque Nationale and one block from the Rue Vivienne where several coin shops, including CGB, still exist today.

Thanks to Curtis JJ for help with the image for this coin and tag