Nomos 18

KINGS OF COMMAGENE. Mithradates II, sole reign, circa 36-20 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 5.71 g, 12 h), Laodikeia, mid to late 20s. Head of Mithradates to right, wearing bashlyk. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings spread; below left, lituus; in exergue, date ΙΓ (? read thus by Kovacs but not visible on his plate coin or this piece); above right, monogram of AP. ACV -. Alram -. Kovacs 232 var. or corr. Extremely rare. Dark glossy patina; a very attractive example. Struck slightly off centre, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the collection of Yerets’ Kariatin, Switzerland, ex Obolos 8, 2 December 2017, 575.

Kovacs divided the scarce issues of Mithradates II into two series, depending on whether they bore the date ΙΓ (13, as on the preceding lot) and no monogram, or a monogram of ΑΡ and no date. However, the one example Kovacs had of his 232 was corroded in the reverse exergue (where the date was supposed to be) and was struck so that it lacked much of the area above the eagle's wing (where the monogram appears on the present coin). As a result, it may well be that K's two series are not completely separate as he believed, but melded into each other. In any event, if the coins were really struck at Laodikeia, the magistrate's monogram ΑΡ has been plausibly connected to an individual who also signed dated municipal issues struck from 25/4 to 20/19 BC .