Nomos 34

KINGS OF BITHYNIA. Prusias II Cynegos, 182-149 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 35 mm, 17.06 g, 12 h), Nikomedeia. Head of Prusias II to right, wearing a winged diadem and with a slight beard. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ Zeus standing to left, half draped, crowning the king’s name with an olive wreath held in his right hand and holding a long scepter with his left; in the inner field to left, eagle standing to left on a thunderbolt over a monogram. BMC 1. Kaye 64 (this coin). For the portrait, see Richter, fig. 1923. An extraordinary coin: perfectly centered, very well-struck, nicely toned and with a remarkably realistic portrait of an unpleasant king. Minor double-striking on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.

Property of a Late Collector, ex Tradart 8 November 1992, 96, Bank Leu 48, 10 May 1989, 213 and Hess - Leu 36, 17 April 1968, 251.

Prusias II Cynegos - the hunter - was a ruthless and hedonistic king who began a very unsuccessful war with Pergamon; resulting in severe reparations. His death was the result of a failed attempt at killing his heir Nikomedes (his son by his first wife, Apame, Perseus of Macedon's sister) in order to leave the throne to his children from a later wife. Instead, Nikomedes II forced his father to abdicate, and then, in turn, had him killed.