KINGS of BOSPOROS. Polemo I. Circa 14/3-10/9 BC. Æ 7 Units (22mm, 8.52 g, 1h). Posthumous issue, circa 9/8 BC-AD 9/10(?). VF.

Electronic Auction 529
Lot: 136. Estimated: $ 200

Greek, Bronze

Sold For $ 300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of BOSPOROS. Polemo I. Circa 14/3-10/9 BC. Æ 7 Units (22mm, 8.52 g, 1h). Posthumous issue, circa 9/8 BC-AD 9/10(?). Head of Perseus left, wearing winged helmet; harpa to left / Herm; royal monogram to left, filleted palm branch and Z (mark of value) to right. Frolova & Ireland Series 4, Type XIX; Anokhin 1358; MacDonald 247; cf. RPC I p. 331; SNG Stancomb 965 (this coin). Dark brown surfaces. VF.

Ex William Stancomb Collection (Roma E-Sale 69, 16 March 2020), lot 142, acquired from John Morcom, 1973 (Stancomb’s ticket included, where he notes the coin as being from “Bement & Bertier de la Garde” [though this coin is not in either Naville sales]). Lot also includes an old collection ticket (ca. early 1900s) in English.

The years following the death of Asander until the accession of Aspourgos were a politically unstable time to judge from the scant historical record. Frolova places this issue between the death of Polemo and accession of Aspourgos, and Macdonald notes (p. 54): “Bronze coins bearing the monogram of Polemo exist in so many varieties that it is difficult to imagine all were issued during Polemo’s short period of direct rule in the Bosporus, circa 14-8 BC. Bronze coins with Polemo I’s monogram may have continued to have been issued even after his death, possibly as late as AD 9/10.”

Closing Date and Time: 14 December 2022 at 10:45:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.