Orsobaris Musa, daughter of Mithradates VI Eupator
Bithynia, Kios (as Prussia’s ad Mare)
Ca 30-22 BCE(?)
AE Tetrachalkon 23mm 6.9g
Obverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΟΡΣΟΒΑΡΙΟΣ ΜΟΥΣΗΣ; diademed head of Orsobaris Musa, left
Reverse: ΠΡΟΥΣΙΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΙ; head of Heracles, left
RCP I 2020 No 9(this coin); Rec 26, RN 1887, 354
Orsobaris was the daughter of Mithradates VI, his youngest daughter from an unknown concubine. She was first married to her father’s ally Sokrates Chrestos, who was the son of Nikomedes III of Bithynia. Sokrates took over the Bithynian throne by ousting his brother, Nikomedes IV.
The Romans under Manius Aqiullius, with the help of Crassus, restored Nikomedes IV to the Bithynian throne, Sokrates then went to Kyzikos, then was pursued to Euboia. He may have been murdered by Mithradates.
When Mithradates was defeated by Pompey and the Kingdom of Pontos was annexed, Orsobaris was taken back to Rome for the triumph parade in 61 BCE. She then returned to Bithynia.
She then married a Bithynian noble named Lykomedes of Komana, where he was the head priest of a renowned priest-state. When he died, Orsobaris was appointed the ruler of Prusias ad Mare, also known as Kios, by Mark Antony. She ruled the city/state from 47 BCE to 37 BCE. Her daughter Orobaitis then succeeded her from 37 BCE to 31 BCE.