The first royal coinages of Pontus (from Mithradates III to Mithradates V) (Powerpoint)

The first royal coinages of Pontus(from Mithradates III to Mithradates V)

François de Callataÿ

Mithridates VI and the Pontic KingdomThe Danish National Research Foundation's Centre for Black Sea StudiesAarhus, Denmark, 11-13 January, 2007

"The first interest of this coinage, however, resides in the royal portrait. The Pontic kings were proud of their Iranian descent, and although they soon married into the Seleucid dynasty their attachment to their oriental roots remained strong. This gave a series of excellent Greek die engravers a unique opportunity to create a gallery of semi-barbarian royal portraits that has no real parallel in Hellenistic portraiture. The first of these excellent likenesses is that of Mithridates III, probably created about 200. His head or bust is rendered with extreme realism, emphasizing his oriental features that are son different from Greek idealization or Macedonian heaviness. The Pontic portraits are equal to the best Bactrian portraits as far as realism is concerned, and seem to me to surpass them in psychological insight. The meeting of Greek artists with oriental models has created a unique and exceptional portrait art that stands quite isolated and outside the main development of portraiture in the Hellenistic age"

(Otto Mørkholm 1991: 131)

"The early kings of Pontus resemble nothing so much as a family of escaped convicts: Pharnaces I has the profile of a Neanderthaler, and Mithridates IV that of a skid-row alcoholic“

(Peter Green 1993: 350)

Pharnakes Mithradates IV

Table 1: Number of coins and obverse diesfor each major royal Pontic coinages

Kings Staters Tetradrachms Drachmsn o n o n o

Mithradates III 2 2 19 5 2 1Pharnakes III 1 1 24 9 16 5Mithradates IV 1 1 14 6 - -Mithradates IV & Laodice - - 5 2 - -Laodice 1 1 1 1 - -Mithradates V - - 1 1 - -

Total 5 5 64 24 18 6

n = number of coinso = number of obverse dies

Table 2: The first appearance of each major Pontic type

1706 Tetradrachm of Pharnakes (Spanheim 1706: 481)1759 Tetradrachm of Mithradates III (Pellerin 1765 – KAI = KIA for Kius)

1860 Drachm of Pharnakes (Waddington 1863)1877 Tetradrachm of Mithradates IV (Sallet 1877) 1888 Stater of Mithradates III (Reinach – Waddington)1888 Tetradrachm of Laodice (Reinach - Waddington)1900 Tetradrachm of Mithradates IV and Laodice (Reinach 1902)1900 Drachm of Mithradates III (Reinach 1900)

1955 ? Stater of Mithradates IV (von Aulock – published by Kleiner 1955)1973 Stater of Pharnakes (Sale Kastner, Nov. 27-28th 1973, nr. 52)1976 Tetradrachm of Mithradates V (Oeconomides 1976)2001 Stater of Laodice (Sale Tkalec & Rauch, Febr. 19th 2001, nr. 97)

JosephHilariusEckhel

Théodore-EdméMionnet

Waddington 1863: pl. 9

Stater of Mithradates IIIS and ME (inner l. field) – Ko and GA (inner r. field)O1-R1a-Paris, BN, 1 = Waddington 109 – found in Ordu, the ancient Cotyora (8.48g[holed]-12h-19mm; see Reinach 1888: pl. XVI, nr. 2; RGAM, pl. I, nr. 1 and Alram 1986: nr. 22).

Tetradrachm of Mithradates IIIO3-R1b-SNG BM 1024 = London, 1869-11-2-1 Feuardent (17.16g-31mm-11h – see BMC, pl. VIII, nr. 2; RGAM, pl. I, nr. 4 [wrongly attributed to Paris]; Head 1932: pl. 32, nr. 1; Seltman 1933: pl. 56, nr. 8; Newell 1937: 42, nr. 1; Kraay & Hirmer 1966: pl. 210, nr. 769; Jenkins 1972: nr. 585 and Davis & Kraay 1973: nr. 198, 199 and 202).

Tetradrachm of Mithradates IIIO3-R1a-Hoffmann, 24 Apr. 1867 (Dupré Coll.), nr. 240 = Sotheby’s, 23 May 1894 (Carfrae Coll.), nr. 187 = Sotheby’s, 28-31 May 1900 (Rotschild Coll.), nr. 304 (265gr. = 17.19g) = Leu and M&M, 28 May 1974 (Gillet Coll.), nr. 243 (17.19g, 12h) = Leu, 81, 16 May 2001, nr. 236 (17.19g-12h).

The die-studyObv.: Draped bust of the king, diademed, to r.Rev.: (outer r. field) – (outer l. field). Seated Zeus to l. He holds an eagle on his extended r. hand and a sceptre in his l. hand; eight rays star and crescent in the inner l. field.…() (under throne), () (in inner r. field) O4 R1 a-New York, Jameson Coll. (16.07g-33mm-12h) = Sotheby’s, 23-8 March 1896 (Montagu Coll.), nr. 470 (249gr.) = Weber Coll., nr. 4787 (16.11g) = Jameson Coll., nr. 2151 (16.07g – see RGAM, pl. Suppl. A, nr. 3) = Leu-Hess, 7 Apr. 1960, nr. 198 (16.10g-32mm).() (under throne), () and (in inner r. field) O4 R1 a-Bruxelles, L. de Hirsch Coll. 1411 (17.11g-29.2mm-12h – see RGAM, pl. Suppl. A, nr. 1).O3 R1 a-Copenhagen, New Carlsberg Foundation gift 1978 (see Mørkholm 1980: 71, nr. 1 and 1991: cover; Zahle 1992: 39, fig. 37) = Paravey Coll. 1879 = Paris (see Reinach 1900: 225 [drawing]; RGAM, pl. I, nr. 4) = Herzfelder Coll. (exchange in 1956 with Paris duplicates) = Leu, 20, 25-6 Apr. 1978, nr. 109 (17.13g-12h).…

Drachm of Mithradates IIIO1-Rb-Bayer Vereinsbank, 11, 1976, nr. 32 (3.96g) = M&M Deutschland, 11, 7-8 Nov. 2002, nr. 676 (3.96g).

Tetradrachm of PharnakesO2-R2a-M&M, 47, 30 Nov. 1972, nr. 475 (16.88g) = NFA, 5, 23 Feb. 1978, nr. 123 (16.85g) = NFA, 25, 29 Nov. 1990, nr. 119 (16.85g-12h) = Leu, 81, 16 May 2001 (Wahler Coll.), nr. 237 (16.85g-12h – “probably the finest known tetradrachm of Pharnakes”).

Tetradrachm of PharnakesO7-R1b-SNG BM 1025 = London, 1872-7-9-131 Wigan (17.00g-30mm-12h – see BMC, pl. 8, nr. 3; Head 1932: pl. 39, nr. 2; Newell 1937: 42, nr. 2; Jenkins 1972: nr. 586; Davis & Kraay 1973: nr. 200, 201 and 203; Alram 1986: nr. 27 and Mattingly 1998: pl. 56, nr. 1).

Drachm of PharnakesO4-R1a-SNG BM 1026 (4.12g-12h) = London, 1938-10-7-130 Robinson (4.15g-17mm-11h).

Unique stater of Mithradates IVO1-R1a-SNG von Aulock, nr. 4 (8.53g – see Kleiner 1955: pl. 2, nr. 12; Alram 1986: nr. 23; Callataÿ 1997: pl. 50, nr. R and Mattingly 1998: pl. 56, nr. 3) = Vinchon, 24-5 Nov. 1994 (Velkov Coll.), nr. 52 (8.49g-19.07mm).

Tetradrachm of Mithradates IVO2-R3a-Leu and M&M, 28 May 1974 (Gillet Coll.), nr. 244 (16.83g-12h[enlarged ill.] – see Richter 1965: fig. 1927) = M&M, 61, 7-8 Oct. 1982, nr. 132 (16.83g) = Leu, 72, 12 May 1998, nr. 226 (16.84g-12h).

Tetradrachm of Mithradates IV and LaodiceO1-R1a-IGCH 1374 (Samsun Hoard 1900) Egger, 28 Nov. 1904 (Prowe Coll.), nr. 957 (16g-34mm) = Jameson Coll., nr. 1365 = SNG von Aulock, nr. 6675 (16.02g) = NAC, 2, 21-2 Feb. 1990, nr. 173 (15.99g – see RGAM, pl. Suppl. A, nr. 8 and Mørkholm 1991: pl. 42, nr. 624).

Unique tetradrachm of LaodiceO1-R1a-Paris, 12 = Waddington, nr. 113 (14.63g[broken in 3 parts]-33mm-12h – see Reinach 1888: pl. 16, nr. 6; Reinach 1902: pl. 3, nr. 5; RGAM, pl. I, nr. 14 and Callatay 1997: pl. 50, nr. Q).

Unique stater of Laodice (?)O1-R1a-Tkalec & Rauch, 19 Feb. 2001, nr. 97 (8.49g).

Tetradrachm of Mithradates EvergetesO1-R1a-Athens, given in 1976 by Euripides Seferiadis (15.92g-29mm-12h – see Oeconomides 1976: pl. 3, nr. 29; Alram 1986: nr. 30A; Callataÿ 1991: 34, nr. 1; Callataÿ 1997: pl. 50, nr. P and Oeconomides 1996: nr. 180).

Tetradrachm of Sinope (c. 200 BC?)

Bronze of Sinope(c. 200 BC?)

Reverse type of the tetradrachmof Mithradates Evergetes

1. Stater of Mithradates III

Aspendos (c. 200 BC)Houghton & Lorber 2002: nr. 1014

1. Stater of Mithradates III

The siege of Sinope (c. 220 BC)

Staters struck to pay the Pontic troops

Tetradrachms struck to paythe Sinopean troops

2. The hypothesis of Harold Mattingly(Mithradates III, Pharnakes and Mithradates IV)


Sequenceof Reinach

Sequenceof Mattingly

--------------------------------

---------------

Mithradates IV


Hoard of Latakia

Hoard of Babylon


Mithradates III Mithradates IV Mithradates IV & Laodice


Table 3: Weights of the royal Pontic tetradrachmsWeight-classes Mithradates III PharnakesMithradates IV Mith. IV Total

& Laodice[17.20-17.29g] - - - - -[17.10-17.19g] 113669 - - - 6[17.00-17.09g] 39 0001 8 05 9[16.90-16.99g] 0568 05679 478 5 13[16.80-16.89g] 7 001378 0379 - 11[16.70-16.79g] - 49 - 1 3[16.60-16.69g] - - - - -[16.50-16.59g] - 5 - - 1[16.40-16.49g] - - - - -[16.30-16.39g] 7 5 12 - 4[16.20-16.29g] 9 - - - 1[16.10-16.19g] - - 2 - 1[16.00-16.09g] 7 - - 2 2< 16.10g 14.93g 15.27g 15.52g 7

13.31g 10.83g 14.77g11.91g

n 18 21 14 5 58Mode [17.10-17.19g] [16.80-16.89g][16.80-16.89g] -

[16.90-16.99g]Median 16.97g 16.85g (16.57g) -16.80gInterquartile sp. [16.33-17.12g] [16.76-16.98g] - -[16.36g-17.08g]



Reading of Reinach

3. A unique and problematic stater of Laodice


Eight raysstar

Six raysstar



Table 4: Summary of the die-studies of the royal Pontic tetradrachms

Mithradates III Pharnakes Mithradates IVMith. IV & Laodice TotalFrequency Obverses (nr.) Obverses (nr.)Obverses (nr.)

Obverses (nr.) Nr. of obverses1 2,5 2,4,8,9 3,5,6 1 102 - 1,3 1 - 33 - - 4 -

14 1,4,6 5,6 - 2 65 - - - - -6 - - 2 - 17 - - - - -8 3 7 - - 2

n 22 24 14 5 65o 6 9 6 2 23n/o 3.67 2.67 2.33 2.50

2.83

O 7.2 (± 0.9) 12.1 (±1.8)8.7 (± 2.0) 2.8 (± 1.2) 30.1 (± 2.6)

Table 5: Yearly estimates for Hellenistic royal tetradrachms issues(calculated in number of obverse dies for Attic drachms)

Kings or dynasties Calculations (O x 4 / years) Average Tetra. of Alexander the Great (c. 332-290 BC) c. 3,000 x 4 / 42 285.7Demetrios Poliorcetes (c. 306-287 BC) 229 x 4 / 19 48.2Antiochos III (c. 223-187 BC) c. 400 x 4 / 36 44.4Kings of Bithynia (128/7-74/3 BC) 445 x 4 / 52 34.2Mithradates Euptor (c. 97-67/6 BC) 190 x 4 / 31 24.5Attalids (c. 263-190 BC) 206 x 4 / 73 11.3Kings of Pontus (c. 220-c. 150 BC) 30 x 4 / 70 1.7

Table 6: Hoards with royal Pontic coins before Mithradates EupatorIGCH 237 = CH IX 247 (Sitichoro or Larissa [Thessaly], 1968)Burial date: c. 165 BC

1 tetra. of Pharnaces out of 2500-3000 silver coins (c. 1500-2000 Rhodian drachms, etc.)

IGCH 1372 (Amasya [Pontus], 1860) Burial date: c. 185-170 BC

4-5 tetra. and 1 drachm for Pharnaces out of 300+ silver coins (c. 200-300 Alexanders, etc.)

IGCH 1374 (Samsun [Pontus], 1900) Burial date: c. 150 BC

3 tetra. for Mithra. IV and Laodice (may be part of a larger hoard – Regling)

IGCH 1544 (Latakia [Syria], 1759) Burial date: c. 169 BC

2 tetra. for Mithra. III out of 92 silver coins (48 Alexanders, etc.)

IGCH 1774 (Babylon [Babylonia], 1900) Burial date: c. 155-150 BC (?)

1 tetra. for Mithra. III out of 100 silver coins (43 Alexanders, etc.)

Table 7: Hoards found in Pontus with no royal Pontic coins(before Mithradates Eupator)IGCH 1369 = CH VIII 324 (Kirazlı [Pontus], 1939) Burial date: c. 230-220 BC13 staters (6 Alexander, 5 Lysimachus and 2 Seleucos II) and 822 silver: 740 Alexanders, 44 Seleucids, 31 Lysimachus, 2 Sinope, etc.

IGCH 1373 = CH VIII 442 = CH IX 530 (Ordu [Pontus], 1970) Burial date: c. 140-120 BC207+ tetradrachms: 97 Lysimachus from Byzantion, 23 Seleucids (from Antiochos IV to Demetrios I), 20 Prusias II, 20 stephanephoroi of Athens, 15 Macedonian first Meris, etc.

Prusias I (c. 228-185 BC)Peus, 378, April 28th 2004, 219 (9.15g)

Prusias II (c. 185-149)Peus, 378, April 28th 2004, 219 (13.60g)

Royal Bithynian bronze coins

The first royal coinages of Pontus (from Mithradates III to Mithradates V) (Powerpoint)

Documents