Ancient Greece - 120-63 BC Pontic Kingdom, Mithradates VI AV Stater NGC Choice MS★

PONTIC KINGDOM. Mithradates VI Eupator (120-63 BC). Callatis Mint. AV stater (20mm, 8.36 gm, 11h). NGC Choice MS★ Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5. The Stater was an ancient Greek coin (Stater literally meant 'weight') that was struck in several Greek city-states in addition to Callatis, Thrace. The ancient Greek city of Callatis is modern-day Mangalia, Romania, and is located on the shores of the Black Sea.

This is a late posthumous issue in name and types of Lysimachus, struck during the period of the 1st Mithradatic War, 88-86 BC. Obverse: Diademed head of deified Alexander III right, with horn of Ammon. Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΛYΣΙΜΑΧΟY, with Athena enthroned left, Nike in right hand crowning royal name, left arm resting on grounded shield, transverse spear beyond. The HP monogram is below the right arm, while KAΛ is on the throne. A filleted trident is pointed left in exergue. Reference: Müller 266. This is a stunning work of classical numismatic art, from its virtually perfectly centered strike with new dies on a lustrous golden yellow flan.

Ruins of the ancient Greek city of Callatis, where this dramatic offering from AUCM was struck, in modern-day Mangalia, Romania.