Lot 3436

Description

Cilicia, Satrap of Cilicia, Datames, (378-362 B.C.) silver stater, (9.962 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 France 3, 259). Polished, slightly off centred reverse, with surface scratches and porosity on reverse, a suggestion of once being mounted, otherwise good very fine/nearly very fine and rare.

Ex Patrick Cooper Collection, and previously from Sotheby's London, Auction Sale July 20, 1983 (lot 39 part). 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.