weight 17,11gr. | silver Ø 31mm. Year 223 of the Bithyno-Pontic Era.
obv. Diademed head of Nikomedes right rev. Zeus standing left, wearing chlamys and holding wreath in right hand and sceptre in left eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and ΓKΣ to inner left field, BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right, EΠIΦANOΥS NIKOMHΔOΥ on left The Bithynian Kingdom held a considerable place among the minor monarchies of Anatolia. The coins of the Bithynian kings depict their regal portraits in a highly accomplished Hellenistic style. Nikomedes IV, the last king of Bithynia, was defeated by Mithridates VI of Pontos, and, after being restored to his throne by the Roman Senate, bequeathed his kingdom by will to the Roman Republic in 74 BC. In 88 BC, Mithradates destroyed Nikomedes′ army forcing him to flee to Italy. His throne was not restored until Rome defeated Mithradates in 84 BC. Waddington, Recueil General, pp. 217-8, notes, "it is difficult to explain the very rare coins that bear the dates IC, AIC, BIC. These dates correspond to 89/8 to 87/6 BC but between mid-88 and the end of 83, the whole of Bithynia was in the hands of Mithradates Eupator. We are forced to conjecture (no text says so) that during this period several fortified places in Bithynia remained faithful to the legitimate king and continued to strike coins in his name."BMC- | SNG.von Aulock 269var. | SNG.Copenhagen- Waddington Rec.gen., page 228, 40 (pl.XXIV, 9) De Callataÿ pg. 65 | Sear 7276var. | HGC 7, no.646 Wonderful specimen with excellent details. Near mint state. xf/unc
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