Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 361. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $1350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of BITHYNIA. Prusias I. 238-183 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.99 gm, 12h). Diademed head right / BASILEWS PROUSIOU, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; thunderbolt above two monograms to inner left. RG pg. 219, 9; BMC Pontus pg. 209, 2; SNG Copenhagen 623; SNG von Aulock 244 var. (monogram). Good VF, light scratches. ($1500)

The Bithynians, a people of Thracian origin, were able to preserve a measure of sovereign autonomy under Persian rule. The country became more or less independent after Alexander overthrew the Persian Empire, for Alexander had by-passed the area. It was another forty years, however, before a Bithynian chief, Zipotes, became strong enough to be recognized as king. His son, Nikomedes I was the first of the dynasty to issue coins. Reigning for about twenty-five years, he founded Nikomedeia and successfully fought against the Seleukids with the assistance of the Gauls, whom he later helped settle in Phrygia. His grandson, Prusias I (circa 230-182 BC), fought against Byzantion and defeated the Gauls, whose power came to threaten their former benefactor. Prusias expanded the territories of Bithynia in a series of wars against Attalos I of Pergamon (see lot 387 below) and Herakleia Pontika. Philip V granted him the ports of Kios and Myrleia in 202 BC, which he renamed Prusias and Apameia respectively. Although he granted sanctuary to Hannibal, Prusias I remained neutral during Rome’s war against Antiochos III “the Great.” The next king, Prusias II (circa 182-149 BC), joined with Eumenes I of Pergamon in a war against Pharnakes I of Pontos. He later turned against Pergamon and invaded its territory, but was defeated. As a result, the Pergamenes insisted on heavy reparations, prompting Prusias to send his son Nikomedes II to Rome to ask that state’s help in reducing the amount. Nikomedes, however, revolted against his weak and inefficient father, and became king. The later kingdom became embroiled in the wars of Mithradates the Great of Pontos. The Bithynian king Nikomedes IV Philopator (94-74 BC) was driven out by his brother Sokrates through the assistance of Mithradates VI (see lots 353 and 356 above). Reinstated by the Romans, Nikomedes was again driven out by Mithradates, who defeated him on the river Amneus (or Amnias) in Paphlagonia. This event led to the first Mithradatic War, one result of which was a second restoration of Nikomedes. At his death he bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans, a legacy which subsequently brought about the Third Mithradatic War.