Lot 5128

Description

Cilicia, Satrap of Cilicia, Pharnabazos, (379-374 B.C.) silver stater, (10.280 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, behind Aramaic legend "Frnbzw hlk" (S.5640, cf.BMC 17, SNG Levante -, SNG Paris 248 [same dies]). Toned, golden red highlights, good very fine and a very rare variant.

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. Datames 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.