Coins of the Bosporan Kingdom

This coin is called a Sestertius - of course that doesn't necessarily have any connection to what the people who minted this coin may have called it.

Kings of Bosporus, Sauromates I AD 93-124 AE

Obv: BACIΛЄVC CAVPOMATOY

Diademed and draped bust right.

Rev: Large MH (mark of value) within wreath.

Tiberius Julius Sauromates I Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes aka Sauromates I, lover of Caesar, lover of Rome, and most Pius, was descended from Mark Antony, his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. Sauromates I had no shortage of royal relatives. He was a descendant of Greek Macedonian Kings (all of whom served under King Alexander the Great)

• Antigonus I Monophthalmus

• Seleucus I Nicator

• Antipater (regent)

and Mithridates VI of Pontus + Laodice (his wife and sister) and Bosporan King Asander

I didn't realize that this was an electrum coin when I purchased it on EBay years ago, I assumed it was a silver stater. While there is a slight gold color on the surface it is clearly not very pure gold. This 7.2g, 20.3mm stater is the only electrum coin I have from the Kingdom of Bosporus

KINGS of BOSPORUS, Rhescuporis IV, with Philip I circa AD 242/3-276/7, Billion Stater (20.3mm, 7.2 g).

Date: Bosporan Era 541 (244/245)

Obv: BΛCIΛEωC ΠHCKOΠoRIK Diademed and draped bust of Rheskouporis IV right

Rev: Laureate and draped bust of Philip I right; club before, AMΦ (date) below.

Ref: MacDonald 602; Anokhin 691; Stanislavskii 640