Drachm - Ariarathes I Gaziura

Đơn vị phát hành Kings of Cappadokia
Năm 333 BC - 322 BC
Loại Standard circulation coin
Mệnh giá Drachm (1)
Tiền tệ Drachm
Chất liệu Silver
Trọng lượng 5.40 g
Đường kính 19 mm
Độ dày
Hình dạng Round (irregular)
Kỹ thuật Hammered
Hướng Variable alignment ↺
Nghệ nhân khắc
Lưu hành đến
Tài liệu tham khảo Simonetta#3 Aulock#6256 Copenhagen#629 Greek#3
Mô tả mặt trước Baal of Gaziura seated left, torso facing, holding grapes, grain ear, and eagle in extended right hand, lotus-tipped scepter in left; B’L GZYR (in Aramaic) to right.
Chữ viết mặt trước Aramaic
Chữ khắc mặt trước
(Translation: Baal-Gazur)
Mô tả mặt sau Griffin left attacking stag kneeling left; “Ariarathes” (in Aramaic) below.
Chữ viết mặt sau Aramaic
Chữ khắc mặt sau
(Translation: Ariarathes)
Cạnh
Xưởng đúc
Số lượng đúc ND (333 BC - 322 BC) - -
ID Numisquare 9961162710
Thông tin bổ sung

Historical Context: This silver drachm was issued by Ariarathes I, the first independent king of Cappadocia, during his reign from 333 to 322 BC. This era followed Alexander the Great's death, a period of immense political flux. Ariarathes, a former satrap, established an autonomous kingdom, resisting the encroaching Diadochi. Issuing coinage from Gaziura was a potent symbol of his burgeoning sovereignty and independence from Macedonian control, asserting his authority over the region.

Artistry: While the specific engraver remains anonymous, the coin's artistry reflects the prevailing Hellenistic stylistic school, blending Greek numismatic traditions with local Cappadocian identity. Typical drachm designs feature a prominent ruler's head or revered deity on the obverse, rendered with classical proportions. The reverse often depicts a standing or seated deity, or a symbolic animal relevant to the kingdom, executed with careful attention to form. The overall aesthetic conveyed regal authority and cultural sophistication.

Technical/Grading: Struck in silver, this drachm weighs 5.40 grams and measures 19 millimeters, adhering to the standard Attic weight system. Key high-points susceptible to wear typically include the highest relief elements of the obverse portrait, such as hair or crown, and prominent features on the reverse motif. A well-preserved example exhibits a strong, even strike, good centering of the dies on the flan, and a complete rendering of all design elements, indicating careful minting practices at Gaziura.

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