Celicia, Mazaios, Trasos Mint, Satrap of Cilicia, AR Stater, Circa 360-334 BC

$830.00

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SKU: G1.25 Categories: ,

Description

Celicia, Mazaios, Trasos Mint, Satrap of Cilicia, AR Stater (silver,9.57g,23mm), circa 360-334 BC
Obv: š”š”š”‹š”•š”“š”† (‘b’ltrs’ in Aramaic) Baaltars seated left on backless throne, his body turned to front, holding grain ear and vine branch with bunch of grapes in his right hand and long scepter in his left
Rev: š”Œš”†š”ƒš”‰ (‘mzdy’ in Aramaic) Lion attacking stag to left; to lower right
Ref: Casabonne series 1, group A; SNG France 314-7; SNG Levante 111 Rarity/Choice: Scarce, VF (undergone cleaning process otherwise, nice toning and well struck on a nice full flan)
Note: A satrap of Cilicia was a provincial governor appointed by the Achaemenid Persian kings to administer the region of Cilicia, Tarsos served as a key mint during the Achaemenid Persian era, producing a wide array of coins, especially under the leadership of satrap Mazaios. The later issues featured Baal enthroned on the obverse, a design that likely influenced the depiction of Zeus enthroned on the earliest coins minted under Alexander the Great’s rule after the Macedonians conquered the city in 333 BC. The remarkable similarity in style between the Baal on the satrapal coins and the Zeus on Alexander’s coins suggests a seamless continuation of coin production following the city’s transfer to Macedonian control. Many Achaemenid officials, including Mazaios, demonstrated adaptable loyalties, with Mazaios among the first Persian satraps to acknowledge Alexander as the ruler of Asia after Persia’s defeat at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. In recognition of his allegiance, Alexander retained Mazaios as satrap of Babylon.