k i n g s  o f  b o s p o r u s

A kingdom situated at the northern end of the Black Sea, running between it and the Sea of Maeotis. Begun in the 5th century B.C., it remained a semi-autonomous client kingdom under the Romans and continued into the 4th century A.D.



r e f e r e n c e s




Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus

Pharnaces II (63 - 47 BC)

Asander (47 - 17 BC)

Polemo I (36 - 8 BC)

Pythodorus (8 BC - 22 AD)

Aspurgus (8 BC - 37 AD)

Antonia Tryphaena (22 - 49 AD)

Polemo II (38 - 63 AD)

Mithradates (39 - 41 AD)

Mithradates (39 - 41 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5432v.; Mitchiner ACW -
22 mm.
6.77 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Beardless bust right. Greek legend.
Reverse: Bow case in left field, lion skin above club. (?) in right field. Below: 'B _' (!)

Gepaepyris (39 - 41 AD)

Cotys I (45 - 63 AD)

Interregnum/Roman Annexation (63 - 68 AD)

Rhescuporis I (68 - 90 AD)

Sauromates I (93 - 123 AD)

Sauromates I (93 - 123 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5454; Mitchiner ACW -
25 mm.
8.96 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bust right; trident symbol in right field, club in left. Greek legend.
Reverse: 'MH' in wreath.


Sauromates I (93 - 123 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5457; Mitchiner ACW 231
25 mm.
10.14 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Chair surmounted by crown between shield and human-headed sceptre. Greek legend.
Reverse: 'MH' in wreath.

Cotys II (123 - 132 AD)

Rhoematelces (131 - 153 AD)

Eupator (153 - 174 AD)

Sauromates II (174 - 210 AD)

Sauromates II (174 - 210 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5478v.; Mitchiner ACW -
28 mm.
15.88 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of Sauromates, right; BACILEWC CAVPOMATOV.
Reverse: King on horse pacing right, right arm raised, holding long staff in left; star in upper left field. In exergue (?).


Sauromates II (174 - 210 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5479v.; Mitchiner ACW -
27 mm.
11.41 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust of Sauromates, right; pellet in right field. BACILEWC CAYPOMATOY. Trace of countermark at 9h.
Reverse: Goddess (Aphrodite (?)) enthroned left, holding globe; star in left field. Trace of countermark at 8h.


Sauromates II (174 - 210 AD)
AE Unit
MacDonald 547
25 mm.
10.13 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of Sauromates, right. BACILEWC CAYPOMATOY.
Reverse: Aphrodite enthroned left, holding golden apple; head of Septimius Severus in left field.

Rhescuporis II (211 - 228 AD)

Rhescuporis II (211 - 228 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5486; Mitchiner ACW -
23 mm.
7.81 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bust of Rhescuporis, right. BACILEWC PHCKOY[Pi]OPI[delta]OC.
Reverse: King on horseback, right, holding sceptre and (?).

Cotys III (227 - 233 AD)

Sauromates III (229 - 233 AD)

Rhescuporis III (233 - 235 AD)

Ininthimeus (234 - 238 AD)

Rhescuporis IV (242 - 276 AD)

Sauromates IV (276 AD)

Thothorses (285 - 309 AD)

Thothorses (285 - 309 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5502v.; Mitchiner ACW 235
18 x 19 mm.
7.36 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Crude bust right; three pellets in right field. Greek legend.
Reverse: Laureate and draped bust of Roman emperor Diocletian (?) right, symbol in right field; partial date.

Rhadamsades (309 - 318 AD)

Rhadamsades (309 - 318 AD)
AE Unit
316 AD
SGIC 5503v.; Mitchiner ACW -
19 mm.
7.45 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Small, crude bust right; trident in right field. Greek legend.
Reverse: Radiate bust of Roman emperor Licinius (?) right. Eagle holding globe, left; wreath in beak. Date = 316 AD.

Rhescuporis V (318 - 336 AD)

Rhescuporis V (318 - 336 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5505v.; Mitchiner ACW -
18 x 19 mm.
7.07 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Crude bust right; trident in right field. Greek legend.
Reverse: Radiate bust of Roman emperor Licinius (?) right. Eagle holding globe, left; wreath in beak.


Rhescuporis V (318 - 336 AD)
AE Unit
SGIC 5505v.; Mitchiner ACW -
19 x 20 mm.
7.55 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Crude bust right; trident in right field. Greek legend.
Reverse: Radiate bust of Roman emperor Licinius (?) right. Eagle holding globe, left; wreath in beak. Partial date.


b a c k  t o  a n c i e n t  c o i n s