KINGS of BOSPOROS. Asander. As king, circa 43-16 BC. AV Stater (20mm, 8.22 g, 1h). Dated RY 7 (41/0 BC). EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 214. Estimated: $ 10 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 14 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of BOSPOROS. Asander. As king, circa 43-16 BC. AV Stater (20mm, 8.22 g, 1h). Dated RY 7 (41/0 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΣANΔPOY, Nike, holding wreath in extended right hand, palm frond in left, standing left on prow left; to inner left, Z (date) above monogram. Frolova & Ireland § 6, 12 corr. (monogram); Natwoka 7a; Anokhin 1322; MacDonald 197; RPC I 1849; HGC 7, 201; DCA 447. Underlying luster, tiny die break on reverse. EF. Very rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 111 (29 May 2019), lot 181; Tkalec (9 May 2005), lot 56.

After defeating Pharnakes II in 47 BC, Asander hoped that Caesar would recognize him as king of Bosporos. Instead, in 46 BC Caesar appointed Mithradates of Pergamon, the illegitimate son of Mithradates VI Eupator and a personal friend. Asander, however, subsequently defeated and killed Mithradates. To support his claim to the throne, Asander married Dynamis, the daughter of Pharnakes II, but for the first four years of his reign, he claimed the title ‘archon’ only, rather than that of ‘basileus.’ The reason for this may be that as Rome had formally recognized the archon Pharnakes II as king, Asander was hoping they would do the same on his behalf – a hope confirmed by Octavian in 43 BC. Consequently, all of Asander’s regnal dates are reckoned from his first year as archon (circa 47/6 BC).

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session One – Lot 1-337 will be held Tuesday morning, 9 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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