Lot 4270

Description

Cilicia, Tarsos, Balakros, satrap of Cilicia, (333-323 B.C.), silver stater 25 mm, (10.53 g), obv. Baaltars seated left on backless throne, holding lotus-tipped sceptre in his right hand and resting his left on his chlamys at his waist, to outer left, grain ear and grape bunch, to right, ivy leaf above B, below throne, T, rev. Draped bust of Athena facing slightly to left, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, pendant earring and pearl necklace, (S.5653, BMC 78, SNG Levante 121, SNG von Aulock 5964, SNG France 367). Some roughness, large test cut, otherwise nearly very fine, rare.

Ex Superior Stamp & Coin Auction Sale at The New York International Numismatic Convention Auction, December 3-4, 1999, (lot 1535 part).
Balakros, the son of Nicanor, one of Alexander the Great's "Somatophylakes" (bodyguards), he was appointed satrap of Cilicia after the Battle of Issus in 333 B.C. He succeeded to the last Achaemenid satrap of Cilicia, Arsames. Balakros completed the conquest of Asia Minor together with Calas, satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, and Antigonus, satrap of Phrygia. It was probably this Balacrus who married Phila, the daughter of Antipater, and subsequently the wife of Craterus.
He was probably supervised by Menes from 331 BC, who held the position of Hyparch or Strategoi for the area from Babylon to the satrapies of Syria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia. He fell in battle against the Pisidians in the lifetime of Alexander. His death is variously placed circa 328 B.C. or 323 B.C.