A Recent Hoard of Ancient Coins from Cilicia - 2011

Bekircan Tahberer – 2011

A consecutive listing of a series of fourth century staters on ebaycaught my attention in June 2010. By the time I realized that a hoardhad been dispersed, at least 10 coins had already been sold.

I started recording the sales, which continued with random intervalsuntil August 2011. During the time I monitored ebay offerings twoparticular ebay sellers based in Germany auctioned about 14 silverstaters from the mints of Tarsos, Soloi and Mallos.

One of the main characteristics of the staters was that they all hadOne of the main characteristics of the staters was that they all hadtest cuts, which were apparently applied very carelessly. Many of the14 staters were minted from fairly new dies.

Even though they seem to have been carefully cleaned, most of the14 coins still carry a small residue of very distinctive and similarencrustations, which strongly suggest that they are a part of the samegroup.

The two types noted were:

A) Mazaios (361-334 BC) PersianSatrap

B) Time of Alexander the Great andSatrapObv. Baaltars seated, holding eagle andresting on sceptre: Aramaic legend(BLTRZ = Baaltars).Rev. Lion attacking bull: Aramaiclegend (MZDI = Mazaios).

B) Time of Alexander the Great andBalakros (333-323 BC)Obv. But of Athena, facing, wearingtriple crested Athenian Helmet.Rev. Baaltars seated, holding lotustipped sceptre; bunch of grapes andearof corn at left; B (= Balakros) and ivyleaf at right; I (= Issos) M (= Mallos), T(= Tarsos) or S (= Soloi) under thethrone or in field.

The Mazaios stater with Baaltars and lion attacking bull is one of the mostcommon types. Although it is commonly believed that these coins were mintedto finance military campaigns led by the Persian satrap, the fact that bothindividual finds and hoards of small or a very significant number of coins onlyseem to come from the eastern part of Cilicia suggest that they were profoundlyused in daily transactions by the locals. Five coins were recorded in this group.

The Balakros staters with Athena bust facing three quarter left and Baaltars arealso common types and it is quite clear that they were either struck in Tarsos asthe central mint in the name of three major cities, namely Tarsos (SNG Paris367-371), Soloi (SNG Paris 196-198), Issos (SNG Paris 419, 420) and Mallos (SNGParis 410-413) unless the dies were carved by the same team of die engraversfor each city and they were produced in their respective mints. Nine coins werenoted in this group: four Soloi, one Mallos and four Tarsos.

Babylon – Price 3614 Memphis – Price 3974b

What is more intriguing was that the same sellers auctioned a number ofAlexander the Great tetradrachmas with very similar characteristics to the Tarsosstaters: rough test cuts, similar silver toning, and very similar encrustation residue.This brings the question to mind if the Tarsos staters and Alexander tetradrachmaswere hoarded together? If the Alexander tetradrachmas are part of the Tarsosstater hoard terminus ad quem would be circa 280 BC.

During the period the Tarsos staters and Alexander tetradrachmas appeared on ebay, anumber of other post mortem Alexander the Great and Hellenistic tetradrachmas withtest marks were also auctioned. Although there were some similarities, most of themhad distinctive differences from the previous group of coins. It might be theorized thatthe whole batch could be coming from a private collection of coins with test marks.

From author’s collection

Coincidently, a Mazaios stater in my collection, which was acquired about 15 years ago,also has a very rough test cut similar to that of the above group of staters. Test cuts inalso has a very rough test cut similar to that of the above group of staters. Test cuts inthe mid to late fourth century BC staters from Cilicia are very common and they can beobserved in coins listed in major catalogues such as SNG Paris, SNG Levante, SNGCopenhagen and SNG H. von Aulock.

Eastern Cilicia in the fourth century was a playground for many historic happeningswhere numerous mercenaries of Persian and Greek origin gathered in the fertile Cilicianplains to join various campaigns. The presence of extensive number of people must haveboosted the economy, which automatically required more coins for transactions. Theneed for more coins must have motivated counterfeiters and silver plating became amajor problem, which necessitated the attention of bankers and state officials, hence somany coins with test cuts must have circulated and hoarded for many years.

APPROXIMATELY 14 + ca 10 STATERS FROM CILICIA

FNG COINS(First Numismatic)

http://www.fngcoins.com/

JUNE 2010 – AUGUST 2011

HELIOSNUMISMATIC

http://www.helios-numismatik.de/

Mazaios 361 - 334 BC 10,97 g 24 mm291 EURO 23-10-2010

FNG MAZAIOS KILIKIEN ADLER BAALTARS LÖWE STATER AB214GRIECHEN KILIKIENMazaios 361-334 v.Chr AR-StaterVs.Thronender Baaltars n.l. Rs.Ein Löwe reißt einen zusammenbrechenden Stier darüberMazaios. SNG BN 338ff. 10,81 gr - 24 mm

Jun 19, 2011 15:51:10 EDTBid history:15 bidsWinning bid: EUR 186.00 Approximately C $260.63

FNG KILIKIEN TARSOS MAZAIOS STATER LÖWE BAALTARS AB523Tarsos Mazaios.,361-334 v.Chr AR-StaterVs.Thronender Baaltars nach links. Rs.Löwe reißt einen zusammenbrechenden Stier,darüber "Mazaios".SNG BN 338ff 10,79 gr - 23 mmEnded: Sep 08, 2011 14:41:58 EDT Bid history: 12 bidsWinning bid: EUR 118.88 Approximately C $162.29Shipping:EUR 4.50 Deutsche Post Brief

fngcoins TARSOS MAZAIOS KILIKIEN STATERKILIKIEN Tarsos Mazios 361-334 v.ChrAR- Stater Vs: Baaltars mit Adler, Weinrebe, Kornähre und Zepter.Rs: Löwe reißt einen Stier. SNG Aul. 10,92 gr - 23 mm

Jan 01, 2011 14:25:53 EST

HELIOS Mazaios (361 - 334 v. Chr.) Stater Silber 10,91 g - 26 mmTarsos Löwe Stier

EUR 76.00 Approximately C $100.37Nov 10, 2010 14:21:09 EST

FNG KILIKIEN SOLOI STATER ÄHRE TRAUBE BAALTARS AB467GRIECHEN, KILIKIEN, Soloi Zeit Alexander der Goßen 333-323 v.Chr . AR-Stater 10,97gr - 23 mmVs.Behelmte Athenabüste v.v. Rs.Baaltars thront n.l. SNG 196;SNG Switzerland 52

Ended: Aug 22, 2011 15:33:06 EDT Bid history: 10 bidsWinning bid: EUR 92.99 Approximately C $132.05

Balakros (333 - 323 v. Chr.) Stater Tarsos Baaltars 9,67 g - 25 mmBaaltars mit Lotusszepter nach links sitzend, links Ähre und Weintraube, unter dem ThronM, rechts B. SNG BN 413

EUR 113.00 Approximately C $149.23Nov 20, 2010 14:09:01 EST

Balakros Stater Tarsos Athena Baaltars Lotus 10,72 g 23 mm111.03 EURO 11-10-2010

HELIOS Balakros Stater Tarsos Athena Baaltars Lotus 981Balakros Stater 10,72 g 23 mm Baaltars mit Lotusszepter nach links sitzend, links Ähre undWeintraube, unter dem Thron S.

EUR 103.03 Approximately C $136.0711-10-2010

Balakros Stater Tarsos Athena Baaltars 10,89 g 24 mm

107 EURO 23-10-2010

HELIOS Tarsus Balakros (333 - 323 v. Chr.) Stater Tarsos Athena Lotus Wein AA152010,95 g / 25 mm SNG BN 367

EUR 276.00 Approximately C $364.50Dec 15, 2010 14:12:50 EST

FNG BALAKROS KILIKIA KILIKIA HELM STATER SILBER AA254Balakros,333-323 BC AR-Stater 10,75 gr - 23 mmVs: Athenakopf v.v.mit attischem Helm,l.korintischer Helm.Rs:Baaltars sitzt l.mit Lotuszepter,davor Ähre u.Weintraube.,dahinter Efeublatt und B. SNG France 2-;SNGLevante 121.

Ended: Jul 09, 2011 14:52:52 EDT Bid history: 27 bidsWinning bid: EUR 182.11 Approximately C $250.36

FNG - Kilikien Soloi 333-323.v.Chr Baaltars Athena AR Stater AB 54AR-Stater 10,90 gr – 25 mm

Vs: Behelmte Büste der Athena von vorn, leicht nach links gewendet.Rs: Baaltars mit Lotoszepter nach links sitzend, links im Feld Ähre und Weintraube,unterdem Sitz .

FNG BALAKROS SOLOI KILIKIA HELM STATER SILBER AB435Jul 25, 2011 14:46:10 EDT Bid history:30 bids Winning bid: EUR 247.00 Approximately C $338.65

Soloi Balakros,333-323 v.Chr AR-StaterVs:Athenakopf v.v.mit attischem Helm,l.korintischer Helm.Rs:Baaltars sitzt l.mit Lotuszepter,unter dem Thron Σ.davor Ähre u.Weintraube.,dahinter Efeublatt und B.SNG Cop. 323 (ohne Efueblatt);SNG Von Aul.596410,88 gr - 24 mmVgl: Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 149 Lot Nr: 241

ROUGH TEST CUTS

Mazaios 361-334 BC AR 10.70 g. 24 mm.Baaltars seated, holding eagle, ear of corn and bunch of grapes and resting on sceptre;BLTRZ = Baaltars. R. Lion attacking bull; (MZDI=Mazaios).Obv. Aramaic Monogram R. Monogram.Tahberer Collection Inv. No. 372.

TARSOS

HELIOS Alexander 336 - 323 v. Chr Tetradrachme 17,21 g 26 mmBabylon Rose Adler AA977Rev: Zeus mit Adler und Szepter nach links thronend, davor Rose, unter dem ThronMonogramm über M.

Nov 10, 2010 14:06:06 ESTEUR 153.00 Approximately C $202.06Price 3648

Compare patina and test cuts

Soloi stater Alexander reverse

Compare patina and test cutsAlexander reverse

TONING AND ENCRUSTATION RESIDUE

Other coins with test cuts offered during the same period

Fngcoins 10,82 gr - 21 mmZeit Alexanders III von Makedonien Issos 333-323 v.ChrAR- Stater Vs: Drapierte Büste vor der Athena,I-Σ Rs: Baaltars links sitzend. SNG France419Jan 01, 2011


LANZ Tarsos - Kilikien Satrap Balakros 333-323 v. Chr. TT640AR Stater 10,79 g, 23-25 mmVs: Büste der Athena en face in dreiviertelansicht nach links, Helm mit dreifacher Helmzier tragend. Rs: Baaltars mitfreiem Oberkörper nach links auf Thron sitzend, Lotuszepter haltend. Links im Feld Getreideähre und Weintraube,rechts korinthischer Helm nach links, darunter B, unter dem Thron T.SNG Levante - vgl. 121 (Beizeichen) SNG France –

Ended: Jul 27, 2011 15:13:27 EDT Bid history:27 bidsWinning bid: EUR 246.00 Approximately C $337.28


TARSOS Mazaios, 361 - 334 v. Chr.Stater 10.89 g. Vs.: Nach links thronender Baaltars mit dem Kopf n. l. In derrechten Lotoszepter. Links im Feld Kornähre, r. im Feld "Baaltars". Rs.: EinLöwe reißt einen zusammenbrechenden Stier, darunter zwei Statdtmauernmit je vier Türmen, darüber Keule und B.


HELIOS Alexander Tetradrachme Tarsos Adler Nike Tetradrachme (Silber), 323 - 317 v. Chr.17,17 g / 29 mmZeus mit Adler und Szepter nach links thronend, davor Nike mit Kranz, unter dem ThronMonogramm. Price 3038; Müller 199Dec 12, 201014:18:23 ESTEUR 131.00 Approximately C $173.01


Alexander Tetradrachme Pella


LANZ ALEXANDER GREAT TETRADRACHM TARSOS PLOW ?ob1959AR Tetradrachm, (16,8 g. - 27 mm) Sidon mint. Struck 308/307 BC.Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin . / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ , Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field Μ Β ; ΣΥ below throne. Price 3522.


Alexander Tetradrachme Sardes


Antiochos I. Tetradrachme Seleukeia bb

Antiochos II. Tetradrachme Mesopotamien

Attalos Tetradrachm Pergamon Athena

TONING AND ENCRUSTATION RESIDUE

A Recent Hoard of Ancient Coins from Cilicia - 2011

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