Pontus, Amisus Mithridates VI, c. 85-65 BC, AE 21, 8.36g.png

Pontus, Amisus Mithridates VI, c. 85-65 BC, AE 21, 8.36g (2).png

Pontic Bronze Coin of King Mithridates VI featuring Dionysus (about 2085 years ago)

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This bronze coin was minted between 85-65 BC in Amisus (modern Samsun, Turkey) during the reign of Mithridates VI of Pontus (kingdom on the southern coast of the Black Sea).

Front Side: Features the head of Dionysus (Greek god of wine) facing right, wearing an ivy wreath
Back Side: Depicts a cista mystica (sacred basket used in Dionysian religious ceremonies) with a panther skin and thyrsus (pine-cone tipped staff) on top

Technical Details:

Size: 21mm diameter

Weight: 8.36 grams

References: SNG BM-1199

Historical Significance: Mithridates VI was Rome's most formidable eastern enemy during the late Republic period. He controlled much of the Black Sea region and led three wars against Rome. The Dionysian imagery on this coin reflects Mithridates' strategic self-identification with the god Dionysus, presenting himself as a divine liberator against Roman expansion. The cista mystica symbolized the mystery cults that were popular throughout the Greek world at this time and helped Mithridates appeal to Greek cultural identity in his struggle against Rome.

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This bronze coin was minted between 85-65 BC in Amisus (modern Samsun, Turkey) during the reign of Mithridates VI of Pontus (kingdom on the southern coast of the Black Sea).

Front Side: Features the head of Dionysus (Greek god of wine) facing right, wearing an ivy wreath
Back Side: Depicts a cista mystica (sacred basket used in Dionysian religious ceremonies) with a panther skin and thyrsus (pine-cone tipped staff) on top

Technical Details:

Size: 21mm diameter

Weight: 8.36 grams

References: SNG BM-1199

This bronze coin was minted between 85-65 BC in Amisus (modern Samsun, Turkey) during the reign of Mithridates VI of Pontus (kingdom on the southern coast of the Black Sea).

Front Side: Features the head of Dionysus (Greek god of wine) facing right, wearing an ivy wreath
Back Side: Depicts a cista mystica (sacred basket used in Dionysian religious ceremonies) with a panther skin and thyrsus (pine-cone tipped staff) on top

Technical Details:

Size: 21mm diameter

Weight: 8.36 grams

References: SNG BM-1199

Mithridates or Mithradates VI Eupator (Ancient Greek: Μιθριδάτης;^[2] 135–63 BC) was the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He was an effective, ambitious, and ruthless ruler who sought to dominate Asia Minor and the Black Sea region, waging several hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful wars (the Mithridatic Wars) to break Roman dominion over Asia and the Hellenic world.^[3] He has been called the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus.^[4] He cultivated an immunity to poisons by regularly ingesting sub-lethal doses; this practice, now called mithridatism, is named after him. After his death, he became known as Mithridates the Great.

Mithridates is the Greek attestation of the Iranic name Mihrdāt, meaning "given by Mithra", the name of the ancient Iranian sun god.^[5] The name itself is derived from Old Iranian Miθra-dāta-.^[6] The epithet "eupator" means "of a well (noble) father", and was adopted by a number of other Hellenistic rulers as well.^[7]