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Sestertius - Kotys II
| Issuer | Bosporan Kingdom (Bosporos) |
|---|---|
| Year | 123-124 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ΒΑϹΙΛΕωϹ ΚΟΤΥΟϹ (Translation: [coin] of King Cotys) |
| Reverse description | Central field bears the Greek numeral MH (denoting 48 units) rendered in bold characters within a decorative wreath composed of two laurel or grain branches tied at the base. Above the wreath, an eagle is depicted with wings spread and a globule or pellet at its center, a symbol of royal and divine authority commonly employed on Bosporan bronze coinage. The overall composition is enclosed within a circular border, with the denominational monogram forming the dominant design element. The die work is typical of provincial Bosporan production, showing robust but somewhat irregular engraving. |
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| Additional information |
Kotys II ruled the Bosporan Kingdom as a client king under Roman suzerainty, and coins of his reign were issued under the dual dating system that synchronized the local Bosporan era with the regnal year — a bureaucratic habit that makes precise attribution possible where it would otherwise be guesswork. His reign falls within the broader Antonine period, when the kingdom functioned as a buffer state controlling access to the Black Sea grain trade that Rome depended on. The Bosporan copper issues of this period circulated in a confined regional economy with no pretense of broader imperial acceptance.