Ancient Greek Silver Coin of King Ariarathes IV (Cappadocian Kingdom of Asia Minor)

Own a Precisely Dated Silver Coin from the Diplomat King Who Kept Cappadocia Free

A real Cappadocian silver drachm of Ariarathes IV Eusebes — struck in Year 33 of his reign, dated precisely to 188/87 BC, from the king who navigated the dangerous space between the Seleucid Empire and rising Rome with enough skill to keep his kingdom independent through both.

$247.50

✓ Guaranteed Authentic
✓ Carefully Sourced and Verified
✓ 30-Day Returns

👑 Obverse features a refined diademed portrait of Ariarathes IV — Hellenistic royal artistry at the height of Cappadocian cultural engagement with the Greek world
⚔️ Reverse depicts Athena standing with spear, shield, and Nike — divine wisdom and victory claimed by the Pious King
📅 Precisely dated Year 33 — 188/87 BC with regnal year markings and monograms — exact chronological evidence in 4.18g of silver

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

Cappadocia occupied one of the most strategically dangerous positions in the Hellenistic world — a landlocked kingdom in central Anatolia squeezed between the Seleucid Empire to the south and east and the growing Roman shadow expanding from the west. The wrong alliance, the wrong war, the wrong diplomatic miscalculation, and Cappadocia would have been absorbed by one of its powerful neighbors and lost to history. Under Ariarathes IV Eusebes — the Pious — it was not.

His epithet Eusebes — Pious — was earned through a reign defined by religious devotion, cultural refinement, and above all diplomatic intelligence. He cultivated relationships with both the Seleucids and Rome simultaneously, reading the shifting balance of power with extraordinary accuracy. When Rome defeated the Seleucids at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC — just two years before this coin was struck — Ariarathes IV had already positioned Cappadocia correctly. His kingdom emerged from the Seleucid collapse with its territory intact and its independence confirmed.

This drachm was struck in Year 33 of his reign, precisely dated to 188/87 BC through regnal year markings and monograms — a feature that makes this coin unusually valuable for historians and collectors who want exact chronological placement within the Hellenistic world. The obverse portrait reflects the deep Hellenization of Cappadocian court culture — refined, assured, comfortable in the visual language of the Greek world. The reverse Athena with Nike declares wisdom and victory for a king whose greatest victories were won without a single battle. Weighing 4.18 grams of high-quality silver.

Perfect for:

• Collectors of Cappadocian, Anatolian, and Hellenistic kingdom silver coinage
• History lovers drawn to the diplomatic maneuvering between Rome and the Seleucid Empire
• Precisely dated Hellenistic coins and regnal year numismatics enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking a rare, historically grounded piece from a golden era of Anatolian diplomacy

What You'll Receive

• One authentic Cappadocian silver drachm of Ariarathes IV Eusebes
• Denomination: AR Drachm (high-quality Hellenistic silver)
• Weight: 4.18 grams
• Dated: Year 33 — 188/87 BC
• Carefully sourced and verified for authenticity

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

New to Ancient Coins?

Start your journey here: kinzercoins.com/collections/im-new-to-ancient-coins