Ancient Greece - 120-63 BC Pontic Kingdom, Mithradates VI AV Tomis Stater NGC AU

From the Historical Scholar Collection

PONTIC KINGDOM. Mithradates VI Eupator (120-63 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.22 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. Tomis Mint. Tomis was a fortified town on the Black Sea in the Roman province of Moesia. Issue is in the name and type of Lysimachus of Thrace, 88-86 BC. Struck during the time of the First Mithridatic War (89-85 BC).

Obverse: Diademed head of deified Alexander III right, with horn of Ammon. Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena seated left, Nike in right hand crowning royal name, left elbow resting on shield; HΔ monogram V in inner left field, TO on throne, filleted trident in exergue. This piece is from the Historical Scholar Collection. Among the goals of this collector was to showcase the amazing creativity and skill of ancient engravers through high-grade examples of some of the most beautiful types. This dramatic example offered by AUCM is indeed one of those. References: Müller -. De Callataÿ p. 141. AMNG 2479. Well centered and boldly struck. A stunning high relief piece.

Ruins of the ancient city of Tomis. Photo: Wikipedia.