AE20

Struck: 100 – 85 B.C.
Mint: Amisos
Size: 20mm
Weight: 7.67g
Die Axis: 0°
Grade: aVF
Ref: GCV 3643

Obv: Head of young Ares right, wearing helmet.
Rev: ΑΜΙΣΟϒ. Sword in sheath with strap, star & crescent; monogram in field.
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Mithridates VI is remembered as the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus and Armenia Minor. His reign lasted from about 120–63 BC during which time he was also one of the Roman Republic’s most formidable and successful enemies who engaged three of the prominent generals from the late Roman Republic in the Mithridatic Wars: Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucullus and Pompey.

The First Mithridatic War, fought between 88 BC and 84 BC, saw Lucius Cornelius Sulla force Mithridates VI out of Greece proper. After victory in several battles, Sulla was forced to leave due to trouble back in Rome from his enemy Gaius Marius and hurriedly concluded peace talks with Mithridates. Sulla left Lucius Licinius Murena in charge of Roman forces in Anatolia who attacked Mirthridates in 83 BC, provoking the Second Mithridatic War from 83 BC to 81 BC. Mithridates scored a victory over Murena's forces and peace was again declared by treaty.

When Rome attempted to annex Bithynia nearly a decade later, Mithridates VI retaliated, leading to the Third Mithridatic War from 73 BC to 63 BC. First Lucullus and then Pompey were sent against Mithridates VI, who surged back to retake his kingdom of Pontus, but was at last defeated by Pompey. After his defeat by Pompey in 63 BC, Mithridates VI fled to Crimea and made plans to raise yet another army to take on the Romans. His son, Pharnaces II of Pontus, led a rebellion against his father. Mithridates withdrew to the citadel in Panticapaeum, where he committed suicide. Pompey buried Mithridates in the rock-cut tombs of his ancestors in Amasya, the old capital of Pontus.