weight 6,45gr. ; bronze Ø 22mm.
obv. Head of young Herakles right clad in skin of a lion
rev. Club and bow, BAΣIΛEΩC on right, ΛEYKΩNOΣ on left
Sear- ; BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; Lindgren collection- ; SNG.Stancomb- ;
MacDonald, Bosporus 30, 99 ; Weber collection- ; Anokhin 134 RR
attractive dark green patina
f/vf

weight 7,78gr. ; gold Ø 19mm.

obv. Draped and diademed bust of Kotys II right,
surrounded by the legend; ΒΑϹΙΛΕѠϹ ΚΟΤΥΟϹ,
all within border of dots
rev. Laureate head of Hadrianus right, BKY below,
all within border of dots

This stater was struck in Pantikapaeum, Tauric Chersonesus
(modern-day Kerch, Ukraine)

The Bosporan Kingdom, occupying the northern coastline of the Black Sea and coastal areas around the Sea of Azov, was the longest-lived of all Hellenistic Kingdoms, lasting nearly 800 years from the fifth century BC to the later fourth century AD. With an economy based on trade in precious metals, grain, fish and slaves, the kingdom had a native population mixing a multitude of ethnicities under a veneer of Greek languague and culture. From the later first century BC, the Bosporan Kingdom could be described as a Roman "client state," but the relationship was less subordinate than symbiotic, with the Bosporan kings requiring Roman assent to rule, and Rome relying heavily on the kings to protect the vulnerable northern frontier from hostile incursions by the Scythians and Sarmatians. Starting with the reign of Polemo I (15/14 BC-AD 9/10), the Bosporan gold coinage typically depicted the Roman Emperor and his relations and/or co-rulers.

Kotys II or Cotys II (Tiberios Iulios Kotys Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes), was a prince and Roman client king of the Bosporan Kingdom. Like many other later Bosporan kings, Kotys II is known mainly from coinage, alongside a few inscriptions and contemporary writings. His coins are known from the period 123–131. Kotys II is known to have been the son of his predecessor Sauromates I. His relationship to later kings is not known for certain, but it is possible that his two immediate successors Rhoemetalces and Eupator were his sons. During his reign, the city of Chersonesus Taurica was under his direct control. Kotys II is mentioned in the writings of the Roman Historian Arrian and was a contemporary to the rule of the Roman emperor Hadrianus. Kotys II died in 131 AD.

RPC III 880.4 (this coin ; only 6 specimens listed) ;
Frolova Coinage, p. 134 and pl. XV, 12–14 (unlisted rev. die)
MacDonald 424 ; Anokhin 473 RR
Very attractive lustrous specimen. Very rare.
xf-

weight 10,18gr. ; bronze Ø 25mm.

obv. Draped and diademed bust of Rhoemetalkes right; trident before,
surrounded by the legend; BACIΛЄѠC POIMЄTAΛKOY
rev. MH within laurel wreath

The letters MH indicate the demonimation; 48 Nummia.

Rhoemetalkes succeeded Kotys II (124-133) his father. This king straddles the reigns of Hadrian (117-138) and Antoninus Pius (138-161). It was Eupator, his brother who succeeded him (154-172).

BMC 9 ; SNG.Copenhagen 58 ; SNG Stancomb 989 ;
Frolova 1979, p. 149-155, pl. XXI, 9-12 ; Anokin 522 ;
Laffaille 408 ; Mac Donald 454/2 ; Sear GIC.5469
vf-