KINGS OF ARMENIA MINOR. Mithradates, circa 180s-170s BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 25 mm, 10.62 g, 7 h). 𐡌𐡕𐡓𐡊𐡕 ('mtrdt' in Aramaic) Draped bust of Mithradates to left, bearded and wearing upright bashlyk tied with a diadem. Rev. 𐡌𐡕𐡓-𐡊𐡕 ('mtrdt' in Aramaic) Bee; in field to left, 𐡋 ('l' in Aramaic). Kovacs 295. Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, by far the finest known example. A splendid piece struck on a very broad flan and with a lovely olive green patina. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


This exceptional piece differs quite significantly from lot 1336 below: not only is it considerably larger and of better fabric, it also bears a much more detailed portrait of finer style, reminiscent of the gold brooch offered in Leu 4 (2019), 358. Whether we are dealing with a larger denomination (an oktachalkon?) is unclear: this cataloguer prefers to believe that all bee-issues of Mithradates are of the same denomination - with the exception of lot 1337 below, which is clearly a chalkous - as their weight and sizes are all over the place, while the diameters of the dies are very similar. Perhaps the present example was the prototype for the series and hence carefully struck from fine dies on a large and well produced flan, whereas the later issues quickly deteriorated in style and fabric. Or, alternatively, the smaller and cruder examples mark the beginning of Mithradates' coinage, whereas this more carefully produced issue represents a later development and was struck in a reorganized mint.