Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XII 29 September 2016
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Persia, Alexandrine Empire AR Tetradrachm. Satraps of Babylon, time of Stamenes - Seleukos, circa 328-311 BC. Baaltars seated left, his torso facing, holding short sceptre in right hand, left hand placed on throne; M to left / Lion standing left; monogram above, Γ in exergue. Nicolet-Pierre 11 var. (unlisted with Г); Sunrise 161 (this coin). 17.07g, 25mm, 7h.
Extremely Fine. Engraved in fine style, and with an attractive old tone. Apparently unique variety. An exceptional example of a very rare type, and among the finest known examples of the series.
Ex Triton VII, 13 January 2004, lot 371.
Following Alexander's great victory at Gaugamela, and once it was known that the Macedonian army would not plunder Babylon, the city gates were opened to the victorious king. In recognition of his change of allegiance to Alexander, Mazaios the satrap of Babylonia was retained in his position, which he held until his death in 328 BC. Alexander made Babylon his royal seat and established an important mint in the city. It was during this period that a series in gold and silver was begun under Mazaios' direction that harked back to types produced under Achaemenid Persian rule and which were in stark contrast to the regular 'imperial' coinage instituted by Alexander. Having previously been satrap of Cilicia, Mazaios chose for his silver issues a type familiar to him: Baaltars, a god equivalent to Zeus from the city of Tarsos, and a lion attacking a bull on the reverse (see F. Holt & O. Bopearachchi, The Alexander Medaillion (2011), note 106).
It is interesting to note that the reverse depiction of Zeus on Alexander's tetradrachms bears a striking resemblance to the Persian type of Baaltars. Indeed, the depiction of this deity is in some cases so similar to the Zeus of Alexander's imperial coinage that O. Zervos and F. de Callataÿ suggested that the Baaltars of Tarsos was the model for Alexander's enthroned Zeus. Though shown to be an improbable notion by Price, it is hard to imagine that Alexander would not have been consulted on the theme of the new Babylonian coinage, and it is probable that the similitude of the Baaltars and Zeus images would have well met with his approval, being another small step towards his dream of cultural unity.
Extremely Fine. Engraved in fine style, and with an attractive old tone. Apparently unique variety. An exceptional example of a very rare type, and among the finest known examples of the series.
Ex Triton VII, 13 January 2004, lot 371.
Following Alexander's great victory at Gaugamela, and once it was known that the Macedonian army would not plunder Babylon, the city gates were opened to the victorious king. In recognition of his change of allegiance to Alexander, Mazaios the satrap of Babylonia was retained in his position, which he held until his death in 328 BC. Alexander made Babylon his royal seat and established an important mint in the city. It was during this period that a series in gold and silver was begun under Mazaios' direction that harked back to types produced under Achaemenid Persian rule and which were in stark contrast to the regular 'imperial' coinage instituted by Alexander. Having previously been satrap of Cilicia, Mazaios chose for his silver issues a type familiar to him: Baaltars, a god equivalent to Zeus from the city of Tarsos, and a lion attacking a bull on the reverse (see F. Holt & O. Bopearachchi, The Alexander Medaillion (2011), note 106).
It is interesting to note that the reverse depiction of Zeus on Alexander's tetradrachms bears a striking resemblance to the Persian type of Baaltars. Indeed, the depiction of this deity is in some cases so similar to the Zeus of Alexander's imperial coinage that O. Zervos and F. de Callataÿ suggested that the Baaltars of Tarsos was the model for Alexander's enthroned Zeus. Though shown to be an improbable notion by Price, it is hard to imagine that Alexander would not have been consulted on the theme of the new Babylonian coinage, and it is probable that the similitude of the Baaltars and Zeus images would have well met with his approval, being another small step towards his dream of cultural unity.