Arethusa? / Ares?

Satrapy of Cilicia (Achaemenid Satrapies) - Stater (2 Drachm)
Female head (Arethusa?) facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing necklace; c/m: eagle standing right before trident within incuse square
Bearded male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested Attic helmet. TRKMW (in Aramaic) to right

Description

Obverse: Female head (Arethusa?) facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing necklace; c/m: eagle standing right before trident within incuse square
Reverse: Bearded male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested Attic helmet. TRKMW (in Aramaic) to right

Countermark type B in "Les monnayages ciliciens du premier quart du IVe s. av. J.-C. A fascinating coin containing likely a depiction of Arethusa (from Syracuse) and Ares, with Aramaic legends. The trident and eagle countermark was clearly struck to intentionally avoid Arethusa? over 2000 years ago. Clearly who-ever did it respected Arethusa / their local nymph enough to not leave the mark on her face, though on other coins this is often not the case.

Details

CompositionSilver
IssuerSatrapy of Cilicia
Ruling AuthorityDatames Tarkamuwa (380 BC - 362 BC)
Period of Issue380 BC - 380 BC
Weight10.47 g
Diameter20.5 mm
Orientation
↑↑
11h
DenominationStater (2 Drachm)
StandardAchaemenid Satrapies - Drachm
ReferencesCasabonne #Series 1; Moysey #Issue 4; SNG BN #258-270

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
United Kingdom
Glendining, 1988 - Lot 120
May 25, 1988
United States
Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXVIII Online - Lot 5199
Jan 23, 2025
United States
Lelouch Collection
Current