Pontus, Amisos. Mithradates VI (120-63 BC). Lot of 4 Æ coins (No reserve price)

The ancient Kingdom of Pontus, located along the southern coast of the Black Sea in modern Turkey, was a significant Hellenistic realm often associated with Mithradates VI Eupator, who ruled from approximately 120 to 63 BC. Mithradates VI was a formidable adversary of Rome, known for his prolonged conflicts called the Mithridatic Wars. Coinage from Amisos, a principal city of Pontus, typically features bronze Æ coins bearing the images of rulers, deities, and symbols representing local beliefs and political assertions. These coins served as both economic tools and propaganda devices, emphasizing the king's authority and Pontus's independence during turbulent times. Collecting such coins offers insight into the art, politics, and economy of this regional power as it grappled with Rome’s expanding influence. Bronze coins, in particular, were commonplace currency for daily transactions and reveal much about the local culture and administrative systems in late Hellenistic Asia Minor.