Asia Minor is known for having kingdoms that issued abundant coinage during some points in their history. After Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty expanded, smaller kingdoms exploited the political situation and increased their power in the region. Bithynia, Cappadocia and Pontus are well-known and studied for their abundant coinage at certain times. Bithynian kingdom incorporated the most monetized areas under its domain when compared to the other two kingdoms. Bithynian rulers struck long and continuous series of silver and bronze coinage. Elsewhere, Cappadocians are primarily known for their military issues of coins, and the less monetized Pontic region primarily struck bronze coinage.[1]
The purpose of the first royal Bithynian and Cappadocian bronze coinage is still unknown.[1]
Historyedit
The first king was Zipoetes I c. 298 BC – c. 279 BC. It is thought that there were no coinage struck during his reign.[2]
The first Bithynian king to strike coins was Nicomedes I (c. 280 BC – c. 250 BC). He is primarily known for bringing the Gauls known as Galatians to the Asia Minor in 277 BC to fight against his brother and Antiochus I. This short-sighted mistake brought troubles for local Greeks for a century. In early 260s BC, possibly in 264 BC according to Eusebius, he moved the capital to Nicomedia on the Propontis. There was a mint in the new capital. Silver tetradrachms and drachms of the Attic weight are known. Nicomedes I is known to have struck some bronze coinage too.[3] Both Bithynian and Cappadocian coinages were started with minor series of bronze coins.[1]
Successor of Nicomedes I was Ziaelas (c. 250 BC – 230 BC). He is known for having minted bronze coinage. However, only a few specimen have survived.[3]
Reign of Prusias I (c. 232 BC – 182 BC) saw birth of a more regular silver and bronze coinage for the kingdom.[3] The first large issues of coins can be thus attributed to him.[1] Bronze coinage of Prusias I and Prusias II have not been differentiated in the most common catalogues. However, those related to Ziaelas can be attributed to Prusias I.[3]
Nicomedes II is notable for having struck the first gold staters in the kingdom's history. Those coins had his portrait on their obverse, and a galloping horseman on the reverse.[4] He also introduced the year number of the Bithynian era on his coins, replacing the Seleucid era.[5]
During Roman rule the provincial cities that, in the combined province of Bithynia and Pontus, issued coinage reached 29 cities during the second century AD. Some of these cities on the Bithynian region included Apamea Myrlea, Bithynium, Nicaea, Nicomedia and Tium.[6]
^ abcdWilliam E. Metcalf (5 January 2016). The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press. p. 185. ISBN978-0-19-937218-8.
^ abc"Ancient coinage of Bithynia". snible.org. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
^ abcdOtto Mørkholm (31 May 1991). Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea (336–188 BC). Cambridge University Press. p. 130. ISBN978-0-521-39504-5.
^Per Bilde (1996). Aspects of Hellenistic Kingship. Aarhus University Press. ISBN978-87-7288-474-5.
^Jakob Munk Højte, "From Kingdom to Province: Reshaping Pontos after the Fall of Mithridates VI", in Tønnes Bekker-Nielsen (ed.), Rome and the Black Sea Region: Domination, Romanisation, Resistance (Aarhus University Press, 2006), 15–30.
^ abWayne G. Sayles (June 1998). Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins. F+W Media, Inc. pp. 46–47. ISBN0-87341-552-3.
Further readingedit
Andrew Burnett; Michel Amandry; Ian Carradice (1999). Roman provincial coinage: From Vespasian to Domitian: (AD 69-96). British Museum Press. pp. 92–95. ISBN978-0-7141-0898-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coins of the kingdom of Bithynia.
"Ancient Coinage of Bithynia, Nicaea". wildwinds.com. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
"Ancient Coinage of Bithynia, Nicomedia"
January 01, 1970
bithynian, coinage, refers, coinage, struck, kingdom, bithynia, that, situated, coast, black, tetradrachm, nicomedes, contents, extent, monetization, history, kingdom, also, references, further, reading, external, linksextent, monetization, editasia, minor, kn. Bithynian coinage refers to coinage struck by the Kingdom of Bithynia that was situated on the coast of the Black Sea Tetradrachm of Nicomedes II Contents 1 Extent of monetization 2 History 3 End of the kingdom 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksExtent of monetization editAsia Minor is known for having kingdoms that issued abundant coinage during some points in their history After Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty expanded smaller kingdoms exploited the political situation and increased their power in the region Bithynia Cappadocia and Pontus are well known and studied for their abundant coinage at certain times Bithynian kingdom incorporated the most monetized areas under its domain when compared to the other two kingdoms Bithynian rulers struck long and continuous series of silver and bronze coinage Elsewhere Cappadocians are primarily known for their military issues of coins and the less monetized Pontic region primarily struck bronze coinage 1 The purpose of the first royal Bithynian and Cappadocian bronze coinage is still unknown 1 History editThe first king was Zipoetes I c 298 BC c 279 BC It is thought that there were no coinage struck during his reign 2 The first Bithynian king to strike coins was Nicomedes I c 280 BC c 250 BC He is primarily known for bringing the Gauls known as Galatians to the Asia Minor in 277 BC to fight against his brother and Antiochus I This short sighted mistake brought troubles for local Greeks for a century In early 260s BC possibly in 264 BC according to Eusebius he moved the capital to Nicomedia on the Propontis There was a mint in the new capital Silver tetradrachms and drachms of the Attic weight are known Nicomedes I is known to have struck some bronze coinage too 3 Both Bithynian and Cappadocian coinages were started with minor series of bronze coins 1 Successor of Nicomedes I was Ziaelas c 250 BC 230 BC He is known for having minted bronze coinage However only a few specimen have survived 3 Reign of Prusias I c 232 BC 182 BC saw birth of a more regular silver and bronze coinage for the kingdom 3 The first large issues of coins can be thus attributed to him 1 Bronze coinage of Prusias I and Prusias II have not been differentiated in the most common catalogues However those related to Ziaelas can be attributed to Prusias I 3 Nicomedes II is notable for having struck the first gold staters in the kingdom s history Those coins had his portrait on their obverse and a galloping horseman on the reverse 4 He also introduced the year number of the Bithynian era on his coins replacing the Seleucid era 5 Both Nicomedes III and Nicomedes IV struck similar tetradrachms as their predecessor Nicomedes II 2 End of the kingdom edit nbsp Roman provincial coin of Antoninus Pius On the death of king Nicomedes IV in 74 BC the kingdom was bequeathed to the Roman Empire and subsequently reconstituted as a Roman province It was later part of the province of the Bithynia and Pontus Roman administration saw introduction of a new provincial currency and Bithynian polity s capital was moved back to Nicomedia 2 6 During Roman rule the provincial cities that in the combined province of Bithynia and Pontus issued coinage reached 29 cities during the second century AD Some of these cities on the Bithynian region included Apamea Myrlea Bithynium Nicaea Nicomedia and Tium 6 See also editList of rulers of Bithynia Pontic coinageReferences edit nbsp Money portal nbsp Numismatics portal a b c d William E Metcalf 5 January 2016 The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage Oxford University Press p 185 ISBN 978 0 19 937218 8 a b c Ancient coinage of Bithynia snible org Retrieved 2018 02 09 a b c d Otto Morkholm 31 May 1991 Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea 336 188 BC Cambridge University Press p 130 ISBN 978 0 521 39504 5 Per Bilde 1996 Aspects of Hellenistic Kingship Aarhus University Press ISBN 978 87 7288 474 5 Jakob Munk Hojte From Kingdom to Province Reshaping Pontos after the Fall of Mithridates VI in Tonnes Bekker Nielsen ed Rome and the Black Sea Region Domination Romanisation Resistance Aarhus University Press 2006 15 30 a b Wayne G Sayles June 1998 Ancient Coin Collecting IV Roman Provincial Coins F W Media Inc pp 46 47 ISBN 0 87341 552 3 Further reading editAndrew Burnett Michel Amandry Ian Carradice 1999 Roman provincial coinage From Vespasian to Domitian AD 69 96 British Museum Press pp 92 95 ISBN 978 0 7141 0898 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coins of the kingdom of Bithynia Ancient Coinage of Bithynia Nicaea wildwinds com Retrieved 2018 02 09 Ancient Coinage of Bithynia Nicomedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bithynian coinage amp oldid 927080927, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
