К просопографии Боспорского царства: по данным нумизматики
Towards Prosopography of the Bosporan Kingdom: by numismatic data

Summary/Abstract: The author studies Bosporus obols and tetrachalks with the image of Apollo on the obverse. They were minted out of copper and bronze money of Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysius. Judging by the carelessness of this operation, the authorities of the Bosporus were in a hurry. It is generally accepted that these coins were issued in the Pontic period. However, there is no solidarity among the researchers on the issue of their dating. Having set ourselves the goal of highlighting this problem, we deciphered the monogram, printed on the reverse of the studied coins, and managed to make out the name of Irad. We believe that he was a descendant of the Hellenized people from the Near East. Considering the circumstances under which these coins were issued into circulation, it seemed to be a financial operation conducted by the political authorities of Panticapaeum and a king’s official representative named Irad. Its purpose was to normalize the circulation of money. We believe that this operation could be carried out only under Pharnaces II, specifically, in the initial period of his reign.

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