Arethusa? / Ares?
Satrapy of Cilicia (Achaemenid Satrapies) - Stater (2 Drachm)
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
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Silver |
| Issuer | Satrapy of Cilicia |
| Ruling Authority | Datames Tarkamuwa (380 BC - 362 BC) |
| Period of Issue | 380 BC - 380 BC |
| Weight | 10.47 g |
| Diameter | 20.5 mm |
| Orientation | ↑↑ 11h |
| Denomination | 1 Stater |
| Standard | Achaemenid Satrapies - Drachm |
| References | Casabonne #Series 1; Moysey #Issue 4; SNG BN #258-270 |
Provenance
| Location | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Glendining, 1988 - Lot 120 | May 24, 1988 |
| United States | Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXVIII Online - Lot 5199 | Jan 22, 2025 |
| United States | Lelouch Collection | Current |