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 broke-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.