Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada

Auction 2  –  9 November 2019

Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada, Auction 2

Ancient and Medieval Coins

Sa, 09.11.2019, from 6:00 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

★ Slaying of Medusa ★

PONTOS, Amisos: Mithradates VI Eupator (105-65 BCE), AE31, issued 105-85 BCE. 17.46g, 30.5mm.
Obv: Head of Athena in Attic helmet right.
Rev: AMI-ΣOY, Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, corpse at feet gushing blood from neck stump; monogram to left and right.
HGC 7, 238; SNG BM Black Sea 1166 var. (monograms).
An unusually complete reverse depiction.
Mithradates VI analogized himself to Perseus ridding the East of Medusa (Rome). In 88 BCE, he orchestrated the massacre of most of the 80,000 Romans then living in Anatolia, which obviously prompted a Roman retaliation. The multi-part conflict is known as the Mithridatic Wars, during which this coin was issued.

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Price realized 40 CAD 1 bid
Starting price 40 CAD
The auction is closed.
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