Pages: 149-157

Numismatics of the Ancient Bosporus has been studied for a few centuries now. Numerous varieties of the coins minted in Bosporus have been described. While working out their classification, the researchers focused on images and legends, including the coded as monograms. The present study focuses on ligature known from anonymous Bosporan obols. This monogram, like other similar monograms, has not been yet deciphered. We also considered that the same symbol was known from Chabacta's bronzes. We assume that the monogram can be attributed to Artaxerxes — one of the elder sons of Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysos. It is likely that he was one of the governors of this sovereign during the preparation of the march on Rome. Artaxerxes's sphere of influence was located on the Asian side of Bosporus. We hope that our findings will not only help decipher the monogram on anonymous obols, but will also shed new light on the history of the Northern Black Sea of the Pontic period.

Keywords: North Pontic region, Bosporan Kingdom, ancient history, Pontic period, numismatics, monogram, Mithridates VI Eupator, Artaxerxes

Information about author:

Michael Choref (Nizhnevartovsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Nizhnevartovsk State University. Lenin St., 56, Nizhnevartovsk, 628605, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District — Yugra, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]