Pontus, Amisos Bronze — Gorgon Head Apotropaic Issue, Struck Under Mithradates VI, NGC-Certified

The Mithradates VI Gorgoneion Bronze (120–63 BC) is a striking and symbolic issue from the kingdom of Pontus during its epic struggle against Rome. Struck at the important Black Sea port of Amisos and certified by NGC, this bronze coin reflects the reign of Mithradates VI Eupator — one of Rome’s most formidable Hellenistic adversaries.

The obverse features a powerful Gorgoneion, the severed head of the Gorgon, whose petrifying gaze in Greek mythology was believed to ward off evil. Such imagery was apotropaic — designed to repel harm and protect the bearer. For Mithradates, who waged three major wars against the expanding Roman Republic, the Gorgon symbolized supernatural defense against overwhelming imperial power. It was both religious charm and political statement.

The reverse typically bears Pontic royal symbols or Greek mythological motifs, reinforcing the kingdom’s Hellenic identity. Amisos, as a strategic coastal city, played a key role in trade and military logistics. Its coinage circulated among soldiers, merchants, and citizens during years of invasion, siege, and shifting alliances.

In the context of the Mithradatic Wars, this coin becomes more than bronze currency. It embodies cultural defiance — Greek myth invoked against Roman expansion. Though Mithradates ultimately fell, his resistance delayed Roman dominance in the East and left a lasting legacy.

For collectors, this Gorgoneion bronze is an evocative talisman from a kingdom fighting for survival — a coin where myth, magic, and geopolitics converge in enduring metal.

Note: Coins shown are representative examples of the grade and type, not the exact specimen.