Lot 962

Description

Cilicia, Satrap of Cilicia, Mazaios, (361-334 B.C.) silver stater, (10.7 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 throne 'ankh' symbol, to left 9, all within circle of dots rev. lion left on the back of a stag kneeling left which it attacks with teeth and claws, above Aramaic legend 'Mazdai' and ear of corn and 2, all within linear circle, (S.5650, BMC 53, not in SNG Levante Cop. or BN). Surface porosity, bright and good very fine, rare.

Mazaios ruled Cilicia for 27 years, until just before the Macedonian conquest, later, under Alexander, he became governor of Babylonia.