Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 96 14-15 February 2017
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Cilicia, Tarsos. Mazaios. Silver Stater (10.87 g), Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. Baaltars seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, bunch of grapes and scepter; in left field and below throne, Aramaic letters. Reverse: Lion attacking bull left; below, symbol. Casabonne series 2; SNG BN -; SNG Levante 106. A superb example. Nearly Mint State. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,200
From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Purchased privately from Edward J. Waddell, with his ticket.
This stater of Mazaios had a profound effect on the development of Greek coinage in the Hellenistic period. It is believed that the Baaltars reverse type provided the model for the Zeus reverse used on Alexander the Great's tetradrachms and was purposely imitated in order to create an image that would be meaningful to both Greek and non-Greek. Mazaios himself seems to have been skillful at bridging the dangerous gap between these two groups as he continued to serve as a satrap for Alexander after the fall of the Persian Empire.
From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Purchased privately from Edward J. Waddell, with his ticket.
This stater of Mazaios had a profound effect on the development of Greek coinage in the Hellenistic period. It is believed that the Baaltars reverse type provided the model for the Zeus reverse used on Alexander the Great's tetradrachms and was purposely imitated in order to create an image that would be meaningful to both Greek and non-Greek. Mazaios himself seems to have been skillful at bridging the dangerous gap between these two groups as he continued to serve as a satrap for Alexander after the fall of the Persian Empire.