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DARIUS I (XERXES I & II
Achaemenid Empire
Persia |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ACHAEMENID EMPIRE c.5th Century BC |
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AV Daric Achaemenid Empire spear. rv incuse punch. obv hero-king w/bow & |
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NGC AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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PHILIP II
Macedon |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGDOM OF MACEDON Philip II, 359-336 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Kingdom Of Macedon Zeus/youth on horseback early posthumous issue |
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NGC AU Surface: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
King of Macedon from 359 BC until assassinated (for reasons not undisputed) in 336 BC. Father of Alexander the Great by his wife Olympias. An innovative, active militarist, he fought the key city states of Greece into submission, but remained cowed, as did his son afterward, to the Spartans.
The youth on horseback on the reverse of the Tetradrachm provokes thoughts of his teenage son Alexander who fought side by side with his father with great success. Philip's primary legacy was his son whom he prepared well despite episodes of love-hate.
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ALEXANDER III
Macedon |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGDOM OF MACEDON Alexander III, 336-323 BC |
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AV Stater Kingdom Of Macedon obv Athena. rv Nike. early posthumous issue |
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NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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ALEXANDER III
Macedon |
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ALEXANDER THE GREAT (336-50BC) SILVER TET (16.5GMS) |
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NGC |
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Owner Comments
King of Macedon beginning in 336 BC at the age of twenty after inheriting his father Philip II's strong and powerful realm. Educated by Aristotle and having served as a field commander, Alexander continued his father's expansionist plans by first conquering the Persian Empire. Forced (by his own troops) to abandon his plans to subdue India in 326 BC, he died in Babylon in 323 BC while contemplating attacks on Arabia at the age of 32.
Never defeated in a battle, he was competitive with his father and his father's legacy. He was a patron of the arts, science and literature. He was, at once, charismatic, logical, perceptive and calculating, yet could be violent of temper and impulsive. His campaigns did much to spread Hellenistic culture and open trade routes.
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LYSIMACHUS
Thrace |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGDOM OF THRACE Lysimachus, 305-281 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Kingdom Of Thrace Alexander III/Athena posthumous issue |
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NGC XF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
King of Macedon beginning in 336 BC at the age of twenty after inheriting his father Philip II's strong and powerful realm. Educated by Aristotle and having served as a field commander, Alexander continued his father's expansionist plans by first conquering the Persian Empire. Forced (by his own troops) to abandon his plans to subdue India in 326 BC, he died in Babylon in 323 BC while contemplating attacks on Arabia at the age of 32.
Never defeated in a battle, he was competitive with his father and his father's legacy. He was a patron of the arts, science and literature. He was, at once, charismatic, logical, perceptive and calculating, yet could be violent of temper and impulsive. His campaigns did much to spread Hellenistic culture and open trade routes.
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SELEUCUS I
Seleucid Kingdom |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) SELEUCID KINGDOM Seleucus I, 312-281 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Seleucid Kingdom rv Nike crowns trophy ob Alex.III or Seleucus I |
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NGC AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Seleucus (Seleukos) had been a Macedonian general under Alexander III “the Great”. After Alexander’s death in 323 BC, he first supported, then conspired against, the empire’s regent Perdiccas, the nominal functional, if not the official familial, successor to Alexander. After additional turmoil, and with the support of Ptolemy I of Egypt, a former comrade-in-arms, Seleucus gained control of Babylon in 312 BC and began expansions beyond Babylonia into the eastern regions of Alexander’s empire.
As did Alexander before him, his efforts succeeded as far east as India by 303 BC. He then made peace with Indian Emperor Maurya at that time. Some of the conquered territory of the Indus River Valley and other lands were ceded to India, and Seleucus obtained in exchange a large body of war elephants. These beasts were used later in successful battles against Antigonus and against Lysimachus, another former comrade. Seleucus thoughts after defeating Lysimachus were to obtain control of some of the western territories, e.g. Thrace and Macedon and possibly of Greece itself. Seleucus, however, was assassinated while in Thrace and was succeeded by his son Antiochus I.
The Seleucid Empire continued to exist until eventually overthrown by Roman general Pompey in the first century BC. The empire had previously lost much territory to the Parthians under Mithridates I in the second century BC, and later had been invaded by the Armenian king Tigranes the Great prior to Pompey’s victory.
The tetradrachm of 312-281 BC depicts Seleucus (or possibly Alexander) wearing an Attic helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with bull’s horns and ear. The reverse shows a standing Nike presenting a crowning trophy of arms. Oliver Hoover’s scholarship published by CNG in 2009 is that the portrait is of Seleucus himself. The Greek inscription makes it no doubt that the coin was issued in the name of king Seleucus.
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PTOLEMY I
Ptolemaic Kingdom |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM Ptolemy II, 285/4-246 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Ptolemaic Kingdom Sidon. 'K' behind ear. perhaps Ptolemy I issue |
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NGC AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt (323–283 BC) and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. His portrait is on the tetradrachm of his successor Ptolemy II although the coin was possibly issued during Ptolemy I's reign.
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ARSINOE II
Ptolemaic Kingdom |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM Arsinoe II, d.270/68 BC |
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AV Octodrachm Ptolemaic Kingdom rv diademed cornucopias issued after c.193/2 BC |
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NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Arsinoë II, b. 316 BC–d. 270-260 BC, was a Ptolemaic Greek Princess of Ancient Egypt and through marriage to Lysimachus, a former general of Alexander the Great, was Queen of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedonia. Later, she became co-ruler of Egypt with her brother-husband Ptolemy II Philadelphus ("Ptolemy the Sibling-Loving", appropriately).
She had married Lysimachus when he as about 60 years old, she being 15. She bore him three sons, whom she favored for succession by having Lysimachus’ first son by another marriage poisoned for treason. After being widowed, she married her paternal half –brother Ptolemy Keraunos to help retain power in Macedonia and Thrace. He, however, discovered a subsequent conspiracy of hers, had two of her sons killed, and forced Arsinoe and the eldest son to flee for their lives.
In Alexandria, she was reunited with her brother Ptolemy II. Subsequently, she may have instigated the ousting of his wife Arsinoe I. She married Ptolemy II thus spawning the epithet “sibling loving”. She was a powerful co-ruler with Ptolemy. After her death, she was named a Goddess and continued to be depicted on the coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt.
The mnaieion or octodrachm is a posthumous issue minted in Alexandria decades after her death under Ptolemy VI-VIII. Her portrait on these later “K-type” octodrachms bear little resemblance to the face of Arsinoe II appearing on coins during her lifetime. It is suggested that the later portrait is of Cleopatra II, who was a scheming “piece of work” herself. Of course, Cleopatra VII was THE Cleopatra and the last of the line.
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HANNIBAL
Carthage
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ZEUGITANA, CARTHAGE c.213-210 BC |
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AR Half-Shekel Zeugitana, Carthage obv Male hd. rv elephant. Carthage or Sicilian mint |
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NGC AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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EUCRATIDES I
Bactria |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGDOM OF BACTRIA Eucratides I, c170-145 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Kingdom Of Bactria rv Dioscuri on horseback obv Eucratides helmeted |
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NGC MS Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Eucratides the Great was one of the most important Greco-Bactrian kings, descendants of dignitaries of Alexander the Great. The tetradrachm has a legend reading "of great king Eucratides". The dioscuri are pictured. In Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, together known as the Dioskouri. Among others they were associated with horsemanship.
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MITHRADATES II
Parthian Kingdom |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) PARTHIAN KINGDOM Mithradates II,c.121-91BC |
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AR Drachm Parthian Kingdom rv Arsaces I hldg. bow obv diademed bust |
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NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Mithridates II is considered the greatest of the Parthian kings, under whom the empire reached its greatest extent. He was known as "the Great" even in ancient times and was self-identified as "King of Kings". He recovered Babylonia, conquered Mesopotamia and then Armenia where he took hostage a youthful Tigranes who was to become Tigranes the Great.
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MITHRADATES VI
Pontic Kingdom |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) THRACE, ODESSUS c.125-70 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Thrace, Odessus of Heracles/Zeus std. Mithradates VI in guise |
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NGC AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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TIGRANES II
Kingdom of Armenia |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGS OF ARMENIA Tigranes II, 95-56 BC |
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AR Tetradrachm Kings Of Armenia branch; the Orontes below rv Tyche std., hldg. palm |
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NGC AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Tigranes the Great (140 – 55 BC) was emperor of Armenia under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic. Tigranes had been a hostage until the age of 45 at the court of King Mithradates II of Parthia after the Armenian defeat in 105 BC. At its height, his empire extended from the Pontic Alps (in modern north-eastern Turkey) to Mesopotamia, and from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. He was ultimately cowed by the legions of Rome, most finally under Pompey the Great who left the aged Tigranes as a figurehead king until his death. According to some researchers, the "symbol on his crown that features a star with a curved tail may represent the passage of Halley's Comet in 87 BC." (See obverse of the tetradrachm)
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JULIUS CAESAR
Republic of Rome |
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CAESAR ROME - JULIUS (49-48BC) DENARIUS |
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NGC ABOUT UNCIRCULATED |
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Owner Comments
In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey the Great formed an alliance (“First Triumvirate”) that was to dominate Roman politics for several years. He was elected as a Consul in 59 BC shortly after forming the triumvirate. The alliance’s attempts to amass power through populism were naturally opposed by the elite of the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger and Cicero.
Caesar's conquest of Gaul in 51 BC extended Rome's territory to the English Channel and to the banks of the Rhine River. Caesar let his armies to cross both when he built a bridge across the Rhine and conducted the first invasion of Britain.
The AR Denarius was issued by the military mint traveling with Caesar. The elephant is advancing right, trampling on a horned serpent representing the opposition. The sinlge word “CAESAR” says it all. Emblems of the priestly pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex are shown on the reverse.
Pompey forced his cause before the Senate, and the Senators called for Caesar to stand trial in Rome for various charges. Consequently, Caesar marched from Gaul to Rome with his Legion and decidedly “crossed the Rubicon” in 49 BC. A civil war arose during which the popular Caesar prevailed leaving little consequential opposition.
After assuming control of government, he began extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity". A group of senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus, assassinated the dictator on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, hoping to restore the constitutional government of the Republic. However, the result was a series of civil wars, which ultimately led to the establishment of the permanent Roman Empire by Caesar's adopted heir Octavius (later known as Augustus).
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POMPEY MAGNUS
Roman Imperatorial |
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ANCIENT - ROMAN IMPERATORIAL (1st CENT BC) ROMAN IMPERATORIAL Pompey Jr., d.45 BC |
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AR Denarius rv Hispania & soldier(?) Spain 46-45 BC. obv Roma |
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NGC XF Strike: 4/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), usually known as Pompey or Pompey the Great was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic. He was born into Roman nobility and achieved, at a young age, great success as a general. He was consul of Rome three times and celebrated an equal number of triumphs. Late in life he chose to oppose his former ally of the First Triumvirate, Julius Caesar, and was soundly defeated at Pharsalus. His days ended in Egypt, a victim of assassination while on the run following defeat.
Sulla had dubbed Pompey as “Magnus” (the Great) following success in defeating the Marians in Sicily and in Africa in 82-81 BC. Soon thereafter, the Senate called on him to suppress the revolt of Lepidus after Sulla’s death. In 76 BC, he was named as proconsul of Hispania to end the significant revolt of general Sertorius.
Pictured on the left my Sextus Pompey. Denarius (Silver, 3.65 g 12), Military mint in Sicily, 42-40 BC. Obv: MAG.PIVS.IMP.ITER Bare head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus to right; behind, jug; before, lituus. Rev. PRAEF / CLAS.ET.ORAE / MARIT.EX.S.C Neptune standing left, holding aplustre in his hand and with his right foot on a prow; to left and right, one of the Catanaean brothers bearing his parent on his shoulders.
The commemorative AR denarius issued by Pompey’s son Gnaeus Pompeius (see right) depicts Hispania extending a symbol of peace to a Roman soldier (Pompey the Great?) as he disembarks a ship. The insurrection in Spain actually took years to quell after the arrival of Pompey due to the tactics of Sertorius. In 71 BC, Pompey returned to Rome, and while en route, captured the remnants of Spartacus’ army of rebellious slaves. Thus, Pompey took credit for ending the Third Servile war much to the anger of Crassus. A triumph and a consulship followed.
Through negotiations, bribery, tributes and the like, Pompey diminished the threat of piracy in the Mediterranean Sea although, again, he took credit as a great victor of the “war”. With support of Julius Caesar he was named to command the Legion against Mithridates VI of Pontus in the East. After forcing an alliance with Tigranes the Great of Armenia, Pompey commanded a series of victories against Mithradates, the Syrian King Antiochus XIII Asiaticus, and the defenders of civil war torn Jerusalem in the south. The victories, annexations of Bithynia et Ponus, Syria, Cilicia and Crete, and political settlement in Judea in the East on behalf of Rome led to this third triumph in Rome in 61 BC on his 45th birthday.
Pompey, victorious in reality and in hyperbole, would later find himself no match as a general against his former ally Julius Caesar.
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