GREEK – PONTUS AMISUS   

OBVERSE: GORGON HEAD   

REVERSE: NIKE CARRYING PALM BRANCH 

METAL: BRONZE 

SIZE:  ‘RANGE’   19MM – 22.5MM 

Mithradates VI Eupator (Mithradates the Great, 131 - 63 B.C.) was King of Pontus, an ancient country in northeast Asia Minor (now Turkey) located on the Black Sea coast. For 18 years he was the most ferocious enemy that the generals of the Roman Empire encountered in all of Asia Minor. Mithradates achieved almost godlike status in his lifetime, exalted in countless legends for courage, speed, skill in weaponry, physical size and strength, intelligence, culture, and education.  He was a master of 22 languages, a collector of art and rare curiosities, and a patron of the arts who gave awards to his country's greatest poets.

At the age of eleven, Mithradates succeeded his father as King of Pontus. After his mother tried to kill him, Mithradates retreated for many years to the mountains and there became an expert hunter. He returned to Sinope in 111 BC, threw his mother into prison, killed his younger brother and thus ascended to power.

A ruthless leader, Mithradates trusted no one. In addition to murdering his mother and brother, he also killed his sons, his sister (who was also his wife) and his entire harem of concubines. Even his most faithful allies slept with one eye open. 

Mithradates greatly extended the borders of Pontus, threatened Greece and captured much of Asia Minor. He waged persistent and often successful battles with the armies of the Roman Empire. When his own troops revolted, Mithradates comitted suicide with the help of his servant. He was buried in the royal sepulchre at Sinope.

This bronze coin celebrates Mithradates' victories over the Romans. The obverse features an aegis (shield) bearing a fierce Gorgon head. In Greek mythology, a Gorgon referred to any of three sisters - the most famous, Medusa - with snakes for hair. Gazing upon a Gorgon would turn the beholder to stone.

 The reverse is the Greek goddess of victory, Nike. This winged maiden is striding forward or advancing, carrying a palm branch, a symbol of victory or triumph.

This bronze coin of Pontus is a genuine ancient bronze coin that was minted in the first century B.C. by Mithradates the Great. The coin commemorates the victories of the Mithradates’ armies against the Roman legions during the Mithraditic Wars.

The coins were struck with the images of a Gorgon head and the Goddess Nike holding a palm branch.