Denomination: AE Bronze                                                                                 

Date: 86-65 BCE

Mint: Pontus, Amisos 

Mount: Sterling Silver Ring                                                                                      

Description: Pontus, Amisos. AE Bronze (86-65 BCE). Obverse: Head of Mithridates VI as Dionysos, wearing an ivy wreath. Reverse: Cista mystica, on which rests a panther skin and thyrsos; AMIΣOY inscription below; HTPK monogram to the left, MFI monogram to the right.

History: This coin was minted in Amisos, a key city in the Kingdom of Pontus, during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator, one of Rome’s most formidable adversaries. The obverse portrays Mithridates in the guise of Dionysos, the god of wine, ecstasy, and divine liberation. Dionysos was often linked to mystery religions, symbolizing personal transformation and resistance to oppression—an image that suited Mithridates' anti-Roman stance. The reverse features a cista mystica, a sacred chest associated with Dionysian mystery rites, along with a panther skin and thyrsos (a staff wrapped in ivy and topped with a pinecone), both symbols of Dionysos' cult. These elements further reinforce Mithridates' divine legitimacy and his efforts to portray himself as a liberator of the Greek world from Rome.

Mithridates VI, known for his cunning and military prowess, led the Mithridatic Wars against Rome, aiming to establish Pontic dominance over Asia Minor. His coinage reflects both his Greek and Persian heritage, blending Hellenistic iconography with Eastern influences.

R45-1