Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 3156    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 2ND APRIL)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $110

CILICIA, Satrap of Cilicia, Datames, (384-361/0 B.C.) silver stater, (9.87 g), Tarsos 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, porosity and surface roughness, some hoard patination, otherwise fine and rare.

Ex George Mihailuk Collection, acquired from H.Larkin in the 1960s. 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 Tarsos. 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.