Lot 182: Cilicia, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 B.C. AR stater.

Cilicia, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 B.C. AR stater (24 mm, 10.20 g, 6 h). B'LTRZ (Aramaic) to right, Baaltars seated left, holding lotus-tipped scepter; below throne, uncertain letter / MZDY (Aramaic) above, lion prowling left; above, sixteen-rayed star; below, crescent. Casabonne series 5, grp. C; SNG BN 433 (Myriandros); SNG Levante 185 (Myriandros). Light deposits and minor porosity. Dark find patina. Good very fine.

 

This scarce stater of Mazaios from Tarsos in Cilicia retains the normal torso-facing view of Baaltar seated, but here he is shown in a simpler, less harried fashion holding only the lotus-tipped scepter as opposed to the more typical depiction with an eagle, grain ear, grape-bunch, and scepter. However, what is particularly exciting here is not Baaltars but rather the prowling lion, star and crescent of the reverse, designs found universally throughout Greek coinage but here because of their strong ties to Mesopotamian, and in particular Babylonian, culture. Being a satrapy of the great Achaemenid Persian Empire owing fealty to the Great King in Babylon, it is not surprising that the coinage of Tarsos fuses artistic traditions found East and West, but the lion between the star above and crescent below presents a powerful depiction of Achaemenid strength.