CILICIA. Tarsos. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 10.21 g, 8 h), circa 342/1-338. 𐡁𐡏𐡋𐡕𐡓𐡆 ('b'ltrs' in Aramaic) Artaxerxes III, in the guise of Baaltars and wearing Pharaonic Atef crown, seated right on throne, holding lotus flower in his right hand and long scepter in his left. Rev. Lion recumbent right; above, bow. SNG Levante -. SNG Levante Supp. -, cf. 26 (legend retrograde and lion to left, attributed to Myriandros). SNG Paris -, cf. 422 (legend retrograde and lion to left, attributed to Myriandros). Sunrise -. Apparently unpublished and of great historical interest. Retoned and slightly porous, otherwise, good very fine.


The obverse of this interesting coin shows us Artaxerxes III wearing the Pharaonic Atef crown and holding a lotus flower, both of which refer to the reconquest of Egypt by the Persians in 342/1 BC. Artaxerxes' great victory ended the last period of Egyptian independence, but it was also the last major military achievement of the Achaemenid Empire, which was soon to fall to the campaign of Alexander III 'the Great' of Macedon.