CILICIA. Myriandros. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. Obol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.54 g, 6 h). Artaxerxes III, in the guise of Baaltars, seated right on throne with back terminating in griffin’s head, wearing Pharaonic atef crown, holding lotus flower in his right hand and lotus-tipped scepter with his left. Rev. Youthful male head (Artaxerxes IV?) to left, wearing earring and Pharaonic atef crown. Göktürk 35. SNG Levante -. SNG Paris 429. Darkly toned. Some doubling and edge chipping and minor flan faults, otherwise, very fine.



The obverse of this intriguing coin features Artaxerxes III wearing the Pharaonic Atef crown and holding a lotus flower, both symbolizing the Persian reconquest of Egypt in 342/1 BC. Artaxerxes' decisive victory ended the final period of Egyptian independence, but it also marked the last major military achievement of the Achaemenid Empire - soon to fall to the campaign of Alexander III 'the Great' of Macedon.