Akaki Chikobava
Scholar at Faculty of Humanities, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Abstract
The Greek colonization at the Western Georgian Black Sea littoral began in the 6th c. B.C. At first, it were the Milesian colonists, then the Athenians became more active. In the 4th c. B.C. Colchs united the Western Georgia, but soon it was broken up into several sceptuchias. In the 3rd -2nd cc. B.C. the local government subdued the Greek poleis.The annexation of Colchis by Mithridates VI Eupator (111-63 B.C.) is supposable in 105-90 B.C. During this period the copper coins common to the political union of Mithridates VI Eupator are in circulation in Colchis. The copper coins unusual for the Colchis, and for the proto-feudal societies, are minted in Dioscurias and Vani. We think that the regulation of copper money circulation was following: the Kingdom of Pontus was sending silver to Dioscurias, either as credit or dotation, and Dioscurias was minting the copper polis coins, which were sent as pay rise to the garrisons of Mithridates VI Eupator. This specific monetary emission was one of the arrangements in Mithritades’ measures to create the common integration zone.The attributes of the I cycle capitalism and protofeudal society are mixed in the 2-1st cc. B.C. in Colchis. The banking system was not developed in Colchis. Nevertheless, the delineation of the circulation area of the copper coins gives us an opportunity to state that they were minted thanks to the state donation and they represented the daily allowance additional to the salary. The salary itself was not given to the soldiers and it was kept in the banks of Southern Black Sea littoral cities. The Colchis was incorporated into this system. That is why the Colchis of Mithridates VI Eupator can be called as the protofeudal economic and geographical region with anomalities.
