Mithridates VI Eupator Tetradrachm Replica – Stag of Pontos (66 BC)

This replica is inspired by a silver tetradrachm issued under King Mithridates VI Eupator, ruler of the Kingdom of Pontos, during the final years of his reign in 66 BC. Mithridates VI was one of Rome’s most formidable enemies and a powerful Hellenistic monarch who resisted Roman expansion for decades during the Mithridatic Wars.

Obverse
The front shows a diademed portrait of Mithridates VI, facing right. The royal diadem symbolizes kingship and legitimacy, while the realistic portrait reflects the Hellenistic tradition of portraying rulers as living monarchs rather than idealized gods. Mithridates deliberately styled himself as a successor to Alexander the Great, combining Greek royal imagery with eastern power.

Reverse:
At the center stands the famous grazing stag, one of Mithridates’ royal emblems. Above and beside the animal appear the traditional star and crescent, symbols of the Pontic dynasty and its Iranian-Anatolian heritage.
The Greek inscription reads:

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ ΕΥΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ
“Of King Mithridates Eupator”

Various small letters, such as ΓΚΣ or ΙΒ, function as mint or control marks, just as on the original ancient issues.

Historical Context:
This coin was minted during a dramatic period when Mithridates VI was fighting his final war against Rome. Despite early successes, his kingdom was collapsing under Roman pressure led by Pompey the Great. Coins like this served not only as currency but also as propaganda, presenting Mithridates as a divinely favored ruler connected to Dionysos and the natural order, even as his power waned.