★ Rare Tetradrachm of a PONTOS ★

KINGS OF PONTOS. Mithradates III, circa 220-200 BC. Tetradrachm). Diademed and draped bust of Mithradates to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - MIΘ-PAΔATOY Zeus seated to left on a high-backed throne, holding a long scepter with his left hand and, in his extended right, an eagle with closed wings standing to right; in the inner field to left, below his extended hand, eight-pointed star within a crescent; below throne, monogram of ΠA; in the inner field to right,Monogram of ΡΑ left . Very rare. Well-centered,Very Fine toned. Struck in high relief. A coin of very fine quality.
This impressive coin was struck by one of the most obscure and mysterious kings of the early Mithradatic dynasty of Pontos. Aside from his production of a handsome series of tetradrachms featuring a remarkably veristic portrait, virtually nothing is know about Mithradates III. Nevertheless, he is sometimes suspected of having been responsible for a failed Pontic attack on the Greek city of Sinope at the beginning of his reign, although this event might have taken place in the reign of his predecessor. 16,93 g - 31,13 mm