Ancient Coin Stories

Amisos founded by settlers from Miletos.

Amisos is founded by settlers from Miletos and Phokaia.

Amisos captured by the Persians and made part of the satrapy of Cappadocia.

Antigonos Monophthalmos sends his nephew Ptolemy to relieve the siege of Amisos by soldiers under Kassander.

Amaseia and Amisos are incorporated into the Kingdom of Pontus when Mithridates I Ktistes establishes the Pontic Kingdom. Amaseia is chosen as the capital, due to its strategic location in a defensible valley along the Iris River.

Approximate death year of Ariobarzanes of Pontos, who had taken the city of Amisos. He is succeeded by Mithridates II of Pontos.

Mithridates V Euergetes is born in Amaseia. He later becomes a key ruler of Pontus and expands the kingdom’s influence.

Pharnakeia is founded by Pharnakes I of Pontos.

Mithridates VI of Pontos takes Zela and kills all the Roman inhabitants

Amaseia, Sinope, Amisos, and Amastris are captured by Romans under Lucullus.

Mithridates VI attacks Zela again

Following the defeat of Mithridates VI by Pompey the Great, Amastris, Amisos, and Amaseia are integrated into the Roman province of Bithynia et Pontus.

Nikopolis ad Lykos founded by Pompey

Nikopolis ad Lykos ruled by Aristoboulos

Julius Caesar visits the region following his victory over Pharnaces II (son of Mithridates VI) at the Battle of Zela (near modern-day Zile, close to Amaseia). He reportedly utters the famous phrase “Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) after his swift victory.

Amisos falls to Pharnakes II after a long resistance. Julius Caesar recognizes this and declares the city’s freedom.

Julius Caesar defeats Pharnakes II of Pontus at the Battle of Zela, coining the phrase “Veni Vidi Vici”

Marc Antony installs the tyrant Strato in Amisos.

Augustus removes Strato, tyrant of Amisos.

The Pontic Kingdom is officially annexed to the Roman Empire. Amaseia is no longer the capital because it is reorganized into the province of Galatia.

Nikopolis ad Lykos annexed to the Roman Empire by Nero

Pharnakeia reverts to its original name, Kerasos.

Arrian, a Roman governor, visits the Pontic region, including Amaseia, and documents information about Pontus in his work, “Periplus of the Euxine Sea.”

Shapur I takes Zela after defeating Valerian

Neocaesarea destroyed by an earthquake.

Neocaesarea destroyed again by an earthquake.

Nikopolis ad Lykos destroyed by an earthquake