KINGS OF PONTOS. Mithradates VI Eupator, circa 120-63 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 31 mm, 16.82 g, 12 h), uncertain mint, dated to month ⊏, year ΒΚΣ = 6th month, 224 = 76/75 BC. Diademed head of Mithradates VI to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ/ΕΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ Stag grazing to left; in the field to left, eight-pointed star within a crescent with points upward, over monogram of ΣΤΑKΩ; in the field to right, ΒΔΚΣ (date) over monogram of ΑΥΡ; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Callataÿ D25/R4a ( this coin ). SNG von Aulock 6681. SNG Berry 894. Very attractively toned, well-centered, and sharply struck in high relief. Extremely fine.

Property of a Late Collector, and from A Distinguished American Collection, Bank Leu 52, 15 May 1991, 81, ex Numismatic Fine Arts, XVIII, 31 March 1987, 167 (in both cases, the date was misread as ΔΚΣ instead of ΒΚΣ; understandably so, given how misshapen the letter Β is. This came about because the date was added to a pre-finished die, and the engraver allowed too much space for the letter numerals ΚΣ).