weight 7,39gr. ; bronze Ø 22mm.

obv. Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy
rev. The centaur Cheiron right, playing lyre, right foreleg raised;
chlamys of animal′s skin blown back over shoulder, MTE-monogram
below raised leg, BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right, ΠPOYΣIOY on left

According to an archaic myth, Cheiron was sired by the Titan Cronus when he had taken the form of a horse and impregnated the nymph Philyra. Soon after giving birth to Chiron, Philyra abandoned her child out of shame and disgust. Cheiron, effectively orphaned, was later found by the god Apollo, who took him under his wing and taught him the art of music, lyre, archery, medicine and prophecy. Apollo′s twin sister, Artemis, trained him in archery and hunting. Chiron′s uniquely peaceful character, kindness, and intelligence are attributed to Apollo and Artemis. Cheiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and justest of all the centaurs".

Cheiron was immortal but sacrificed his immortality. Herakles and the centaur Pholus were dining in Pholus′ cave when Pholus opened a bottle of sacred wine given to him by Dionysus. The smell attracted other centaurs who attacked to take the wine. Herakles killed many of them using arrows poisoned with Hydra-venom. One of those arrows hit Cheiron by mistake. Cheiron could not die, but the wound was incurable and caused unbearable pain. Cheiron gave up his immortality in exchange for Prometheus′ freedom, when suggested by Herakles. Zeus then placed him amongst the stars as the constellation Sagittarius or Centaurus.

Sear 7266var. ; BMC 9 ; SNG.Copenhagen 638 ; SNG.von Aulock 256 ;
SNG.Tübingen 2163 ; Weber collection 4944 ;  McClean 7536 ;
HGC 7, 639
attractive dark patina
xf-

weight 17,11gr. ; silver Ø 31mm.
Year 223 of the Bithyno-Pontic Era.

obv. Diademed head of Nikomedes right
rev. Zeus standing left, wearing chlamys and holding wreath in right
hand and sceptre in left; eagle on thunderbolt above monogram and
ΓKΣ to inner left field, BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right,
EΠIΦANOΥS  NIKOMHΔOΥ on left

The Bithynian Kingdom held a considerable place among the minor monarchies of Anatolia. The coins of the Bithynian kings depict their regal portraits in a highly accomplished Hellenistic style. Nikomedes IV, the last king of Bithynia, was defeated by Mithridates VI of Pontos, and, after being restored to his throne by the Roman Senate, bequeathed his kingdom by will to the Roman Republic in 74 BC.

In 88 BC, Mithradates destroyed Nikomedes′ army forcing him to flee to Italy. His throne was not restored until Rome defeated Mithradates in 84 BC. Waddington, Recueil General, pp. 217-8, notes, "it is difficult to explain the very rare coins that bear the dates IC, AIC, BIC. These dates correspond to 89/8 to 87/6 BC; but between mid-88 and the end of 83, the whole of Bithynia was in the hands of Mithradates Eupator. We are forced to conjecture (no text says so) that during this period several fortified places in Bithynia remained faithful to the legitimate king and continued to strike coins in his name."

BMC- ; SNG.von Aulock 269var. ; SNG.Copenhagen- ;
Waddington Rec.gen., page 228, 40 (pl.XXIV, 9) ;
De Callataÿ pg. 65 ; Sear 7276var. ; HGC 7, no.646
Wonderful specimen with excellent details. Near mint state.
xf/unc