Amaseia (?) (Mithridates IV), silver, tetradrachms (169-150 BCE)
From SILVER
169 BCE - 150 BCE Silver 2,927 kg
Description
| Obverse: | Diademed head to right |
| Reverse: | BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY to right, ΦΙΛOΠATOPOΣ KAI ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟY (Greek).Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and severed head of Medusa, above, crescent above star, monogram to inner left. |
Mint and issuing power
| Mint: | Amaseia | Ancient region: | Pontus | Modern country: Turkey | Authority: | Mithridates IV (king of Pontus, 162-150 BCE), Pontic kingdom |
Chronology
| From | 169 BCE | to | 150 BCE | Period: Hellenistic 323-30 BC 
|
Physical description
| Metal: | Silver
|
Median weight in grams | 16.80 | Denomination: | tetradrachm
|
Standard: | Attic |
Image
References
| Die study reference: | "[[Die study reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]1Callataÿ 2009, p. 75-77 | ||
| Coin series reference: | "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]2Sear II, n° 7244, "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]3HGC 7, n° 326 | ||
| Coin series web reference: | |||
Obverse dies distribution
| Frequency ᵖ | Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coins (n) | % (n) | Die name |
| 1 | 3 | 50 | 3 | 21.43 | 3, 5, 6 |
| 2 | 1 | 16.67 | 2 | 14.29 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 16.67 | 3 | 21.43 | 4 |
| 6 | 1 | 16.67 | 6 | 42.86 | 2 |
| Total | 6 of 6 | 100.01 | 14 of 14 | 100.01 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | 6 | Number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 3 |
| Number of reverse dies (r) | 14 | Number of coins (n) | 14 |
| Coins per obverse die (n/o) | 2.33 | Coins per reverse die (n/r) | 1 |
| Reverse per obverse ratio (r/o) | 2.33 | Percentage of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 50 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula) ᵖ | 8.71 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per die ᵖ | 174,200 |
| Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula) ᵖ (O) | 10.5 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per die ᵖ | 0.00008 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 78.57% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000 ᵖ | 3,214.7 |
| Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula) ᵖ | 2,927 kg <br /> 2,927 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000 ᵖ | 8,036.74 |
Remarks
Likely military
References
- ^ Callataÿ, François de (2009), “The first royal coinages of Pontus (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V)”, in J. Munk HØTJE (ed.), Mithridates VI and the Pontic Kingdom, Black Sea Studies 9, Aarhus, p. 63-94.
- ^ Sear, David R. (1979), Greek coins and their values. Vol. II, Asia and North Africa, London, xlviii, p. 317-762
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2012), Handbook of Greek Coinages. 7. Coins of northern and Central Anatolia - Pontos, Paphlagonia, Bithynia, Phrygia, Galatia, lykaonia, and Kappadokia (with Kolchis and the Kimmerian bosporos), Lancaster, lxxxii, 352 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
