Lot 1923

Description

Cilicia, Satrap of Cilicia, Mazaios, (361-334 B.C.) silver stater, (10.924 grams), Tarsus mint, obv. Baal of Tarsus enthroned to left holding corn ear with bunch of grapes and lotus-headed sceptre, behind Aramaic legend 'Baal tarz', below and left of throne other letters, dotted border, rev. lion left on the back of a bull kneeling left which it attacks with jaws and claws, above Aramaic legend 'Mazdai', symbol below, all within circle of dots, (S.5650, cf.SNG Paris 348-9 [same obverse, variant reverse], SNG Levante 104 [same obverse, variant reverse]). Brilliant, slightly off centred on the obverse otherwise as struck good extremely fine and very rare variety.

Ex Itallo Vecchi Auction Sale 15, June 15, 1999 (lot 395) and described as FDC. Mazaios ruled Cilicia for 27 years, until just before the Macedonian conquest. Later, under Alexander, he became governor of Babylonia.