Lot 4555

Description

Cilicia, Satrap of Cilicia, Datames, (378-362 B.C.) silver stater, (10.742 grams), Tarsus mint, obv. female head three-quarter face to left, wearing sphendone and necklace, rev. male head to right (Ares?), bearded wearing crested Athenian helmet, before Aramaic legend 'Trdmw' = Datames, (S.5644, BMC 28 without countermark, SNG Levante 79, SNG Paris 259 [same obverse die]). Toned, struck from worn dies, slightly off centred, with interesting die crack on the reverse, very fine/extremely fine and rare.

Ex Old Private Collection, Superior Stamp and Coin Auction 2-3 June, 1998 (lot 6474) and Noble Numismatics Sale 59 (lot 1910). In 379 B.C. Pharnabazos, satrap in Bithynia was given the task of reconquering Egypt for the Persian Empire. Datames, satrap of Cappadocia was later appointed to assist him. To finance this undertaking large quantities of silver staters were struck at Tarsus. He was left in sole command of this campaign after Pharnabazos death in 374 B.C. A few years later he became involved in the revolt of the satraps against the Persian king. The obverse of this coin is derived from Kimon's Arethusa on the coinage of Syracuse.