Bosporus Kingdom

Bosporus Kingdom - Black Sea

There are two references in my library for Bosporus coinage: "Monetno Delo Bospora" by Anokhin, 1986, 178pp, 39 plates and one page of monograms - this book is in Russian and since I can't read cyrillic, I do not use it much yet. The other reference is a new work by David MacDonald entitled "An Introduction to the History and Coinage of the Kingdom of the Bosporus", 141pp with photographs throughout, Classical Numismatic Group, 2005. Since this book is in English, I will reference it with MacDonald and the catalog number.

	Mithradates III, AE 12 Nummia, 39/40-44/45, Bosporus Kingdom BACILEWC MI_QRADATOU Diademed head of Mithradates III right BACILICHC GHPAIPUREWC Diademed, draped bust of Queen Gepaepyris right, IB in right field 24mm x 25mm, 7.39g MacDonald 312 Ex John Vander Weit Collection
	Mithradates III, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 41-45, Bosporus Kingdom BACILEWC MIQPIDATOY Diademed head of Mithradates III right (No legend) Club draped with lion's skin, between bow in case and trident IB (denomination mark) in exergue 24mm x 25mm, 7.72g MacDonald 313
	Queen Eunice, 24 Units, 68-69, Bosporus Kingdom KA \| PE Temple with five columns and five steps (No legend) Wreath enclosing monogram 18 of Queen Eunice, KD (denomination mark) below 23mm x 25mm, 7.95g MacDonald 337/1 Note: MacDonald notes on p.68 "RPC I, p.330 suggests that the NO element of the monogram on this variety stands for "noummia", an indication of the denomination, but the NO element replaces the top part of the monogram as it appears on the second variety, and is so more likely to be part of the name expressed in the monogram than a separate abbreviation. No other coin of the Bosporus bears the name of the denomination, though the number of units is commonly expressed on the bronze coinage."
	Rhescuporis I, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, c.91-93, Bosporus Kingdom TIBERIOC IOULIOC BACILEUC RHCKOUPORIC Diademed, draped bust of Rhescuporis I right, club in left field, trident in right field (No legend) Rhescuporis I galloping right on horse, wielding javelin in right hand MH in exergue 26mm x 28mm, 11.96g MacDonald 364 Ex John Vander Weit Collection
	Sauromates I, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, 25mm, 99-101, Bosporus Kingdom TI . IOULIOU BACILEw_C [CAU]ROMATOU Diademed and draped bust of Sauromates I right MH within wreath of eight bunches of leaves terminating in large pellet 23mm x 27mm, 11.17g MacDonald 398/1 Ex Jean Elsen, Auction 85, Lot 486, September 2005
	Sauromates I, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, 25mm, 98-103/104, Bosporus Kingdom [T . IOULIOU] BACILEOC CAUROMATO_U Wreath on curule chair, scepter tipped with bust of Roman emperor to right, shield in front of spear to left MH within wreath of six bunches of leaves terminating in large pellet 24mm x 26mm, 7.92g MacDonald 408/1 or 408/2 Ex Jean Elsen, Auction 85, Lot 486, September 2005
	Cotys II, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, 123-125, Bosporus Kingdom BACILEwC KOTUOC Diademed, draped bust of Cotys II right (No legend) Cotys II galloping right on horse, brandishing spear in right hand MH in exergue 25mm x 26mm, 6.75g MacDonald 432/1 Ex John Vander Weit Collection

Governor-general Mokhar (?), AE Obol, 23mm, c 80-70 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed by ivy. Bowcase, monogram AK in left field. Anokhin Bosporus 212A; SNG vol.IX, 949; W.Wroth pl.XVIII, #17.

Governor-general Mokhar (?), AE Obol, 23mm, c 80-70 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed by ivy. Bowcase, monogram APK in left field. Anokhin Bosporus 212D; SNG vol.IX, 949; W.Wroth pl.XVIII, #17.

Aspurgus, 2d reign, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 24mm, 15-38. Diademed head of Aspurgus, monogram BAP behind, BI (mark of value) before. TIBEPIOY KAISAPOS Laureate head of Tiberius right. Anokhin Bosporus 319; Sear 5430.

Note: The BI on the obverse represents the mark of value - B (2) + I (10) = 12 nummia = 1 assarion. More common is the mark IB, which represents the same value.

Aspurgus, 2nd reign, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 23mm, 15-38. Diademed head of Aspurgus right, monogram BAP behind, IB before. GAIOY KAISAPOS GEPMANIKOY Bare head of Caligula right. Anokhin Bosporus 320; Sear 5431.

Gepaepyris, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 21mm, 37-38. BACILICCHC GHPAIPYPEWC Diademed and draped bust of Queen Gepaepyris right. Veiled and draped female bust right, wearing kalathos. IB in left field. Anokhin Bosporus 326; Sear 5434.

Mithradates, AE12 Nummia or Assarion, 23mm, 39-41. BACILEWC MIQRADATOY Laureate head of Mithradates right. BACILICCHC GHPAIPYPEWC Laureate, draped bust of Queen Gepaepyris right. Anokhin Bosporus 331; Sear 5433.

Kotys I, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 24mm, 50-54. TI . KLAVDIOY . KAICAROC Laureate head of Claudius right, IB beneath. IOVLIAN AGRIPPINAN CEBACTHN Head of Agrippina Junior left, monogram BAK in left field. Anokhin Bosporus 348; Sear 5438; SNG Vol IX, 971; W.Wroth p. XI, 14.

Kotys I, AE 12 Nummia or Assarion, 21mm, 54-55. NEPWNOC CEBACTOY KLAVDIOY KAICAPOC Laureate, draped bust of Nero right. AGPIPPINHC CEBACTHC Head of Agrippina Junior left, monogram BAE in field to left; IB beneath. Anokhin Bosporus 350; SNG vol.XI, 972.

Sauromates I, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, 25mm, 90-124. BACILEwC CAYPOMATOY Diademed and draped bust of Sauromates right. MH within wreath. Anokhin Bosporus 454.

Sauromates I, AE 48 Nummia or Sestertius, 27mm, 90-124. BACI_LEwC CAYPOMAT_OY Chair surmounted by crown, between shield and spear on left and human-headed scepter on right. MH within wreath. Anokhin 456; Sear 5457.

Kotys II, AE Sestertius, 24mm, 123-132. BACILEWC KOTYOC Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of king right. MH Wreath surrounding legend. Anokhin Bosporus 481.

Note: The MH on the reverse represents the mark of value - M (40) + H (8) = 48 nummia = 1 sestertius.

Sauromates II, AE Triple Sestertius, 23-26mm, 174-210, Time of Commodus 180-192. BACILEwC CAYPOMATOY Diademed, draped bust of king right. Eagle with opened wings holding a wreath in his beak, PMD in the field. Anokhin Bosporus 618.

Sauromates II, AE Triple Sestertius, 28 mm, 174-210, Time of Septimius Severus 193-210. BACILEwC CAYPOMATOY Diademed, draped bust of king right. Eagle with opened wings holding a wreath in his beak, PMD in the field, countermark of head of Septimius Severus. Anokhin Bosporus 625.

Ininthimeus, AE Double Denarius, 22mm, 235-239. BACILEWC ININQIMHYOY Diademed, draped bust of king right, facing draped bust of goddess left, wearing kalathos. Goddess enthroned left, patera in right hand, B in left field, * HT ligate in right field, countermark in left field. Anokhin Bosporus 679; Sear 5495.

Rheskuporis IV, AR Stater, 22mm, 252-253. BACILEwC RHCKOYPORIDOC Laureate bust of Rheskuporis IV right. Laureate bust of ? right, . | . in right field, year qmF below (year ? = 252/253 AD). Anokhin Bosporus 700c.

Rheskuporis IV, AR Stater, 22mm, 266-267. BACILEwC RHCKOYPORIDOC. Bust of Rheskuporis IV, cuirassed, draped right, trident in right field. Laureate, draped bust of Gallienus right, K in right field, year GXF below (563 = 266/267 AD). Anokhin Bosporus 714.

Rheskuporis IV, AE Double Denarius, 19mm, 242-276. BACILEC PHCKOYPOPIDOC Draped bust of Rheskuporis right. Enthroned goddess left, B in left field, * in right field. Anokhin Bosporus 719.

Rheskuporis IV, AE Denarius, 15mm, 242-276. Legend off flan. Bust of Rheskuporis IV, cuirassed, draped right, trident in right field. Enthroned goddess left. Anokhin Bosporus 722; Sear 5500.

Rheskuporis V, AE Stater, 22mm, 318-336. BACILEC RHCKOYPIDOC Draped bust of king right, trident in right field. Laureate, draped bust of Constantine the Great right, eagle on globe in right field, year KX below (620 = 323 AD). Anokhin Bosporus 769a.