105-85 BC Pontos Amisos bronze coin, obverse engraved Aegis with gorgoneion, reverse engraved Nike advancing right holding palm tied with fillet over left shoulder, monogram to left and right, D: 20.2 mm, 6.36 grams. Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The name was derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea, Pontos Euxeinos ("Hospitable Sea"), or simply Pontos. The extent of the region varied through the ages but generally extended from the borders of Colchis (modern Georgia) until well into Paphlagonia in the west, with varying amounts of hinterland. Several states and provinces bearing the name of Pontus or variants thereof were established in the region in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, culminating in the late Byzantine Empire of Trebizond. Pontus is sometimes considered as the home of the Amazons, with the name Amazon used not only for a city (Amasya) but for all of Pontus in Greek mythology. PROVENANCE: Private collection of Ken Dorney, classical numismatist dealer