OXFORD NUMISMATIC SOCIETY CHRISTMAS 2019

KINGS OF THE PONTOS, Mithradates VI, Tetradrachm, Pergamum, 85/4, diademed head right, rev. stag grazing left, star and crescent to left, monogram and ? to right, all within ivy- wreath. Mithradates VI (135–63 BC) was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120–63 BC. Mithridates is remembered as one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and successful enemies, who engaged three of the prominent generals from the late Roman Republic in the Mithridatic Wars: Lot 794 Date of Auction: 13th March 2018 Sold for £1,800

LORRAINE, Charles II, Gros, minted at Sierck, helmet over shield, rev. sword between holly leaves. Lot 1244 Date of Auction: 21st March 2013 Sold for £270 Charles II (11 September 1365 – 25 January 1431), called the Bold (French: le Hardi) was the Duke of Lorraine from 1390 to his death and Constable of France from 1418 to 1425.

In heraldry, holly is used to symbolize truth. Holly, especially the variety found in Europe, is commonly referenced at Christmastime, and is often referred to by the name Christ's thorn. Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism, as expressed in this popular Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy", in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents His mother, the Virgin Mary .In Greek mythology ivy was sacred to Osiris and also associated with Dionysus. In Roman mythology Ivy was connected to Bacchus, the god of wine as it grew over his home land. Bacchus is often portrayed wearing an ivy crown, perhaps because this was once thought to prevent intoxication. (It does not)

Images and text used by kind permission of Dix Noonan Webb Ltd 
https://www.dnw.co.uk/

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web