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Stater - Asander
| Issuer | Bosporan Kingdom (Bosporos) |
|---|---|
| Year | 47 BC |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Standing figure of Nike facing left, positioned atop the prow of a warship (aphlaston), rendered in flowing drapery in the Hellenistic tradition. Nike extends her right arm forward to offer a wreath, while her left arm cradles a tall palm frond, both attributes symbolic of victory. The Greek inscription ΑΡΧΟΝΤΟΣ ΑΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΒΟΣΠΟΡΟΥ is distributed around the field, with the regnal date ЄT A (Year 1) inscribed across the upper field, and a monogram appearing in the inner left field. The composition closely follows the Victory-on-prow type well established in Bosporan royal coinage. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Asander seized control of the Bosporan Kingdom by killing his father-in-law Pharnaces II in 47 BC — the same Pharnaces whom Caesar had just defeated at Zela, the victory that prompted the famous "veni, vidi, vici." The stater issue dates to precisely this moment of opportunistic consolidation, before Asander had secured formal recognition from Rome and while his legitimacy remained openly contested.
He would rule for decades, eventually earning the title of king around 14 BC, but these early gold issues were struck when his hold on the Cimmerian Bosporus was anything but certain.