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Drachm - Ariarathes I Sinope
| Issuer | Kings of Cappadokia |
|---|---|
| Year | 325 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | A sea-eagle with wings spread wide stands in profile to the left atop a dolphin, a classic Sinopean civic type reflecting the city's maritime identity and its role as a major Black Sea port. The dolphin, rendered beneath the eagle, is depicted in a naturalistic curved posture characteristic of the late Classical Greek numismatic tradition. Beneath the eagle's tail, an ankh symbol appears in the lower field, an Egyptianizing element indicative of the broad cultural influences circulating through Achaemenid-controlled satrapies in this period. The overall reverse composition closely follows the standard civic coinage of Sinope, adapted here for the Cappadokian dynastic coinage of Ariarathes I. |
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| Mint | Sinope, Paphlagonia, modern-day Sinop, Turkey |
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| Additional information |
Ariarathes I ruled Cappadocia as a Persian-appointed satrap before declaring independence, and his coinage reflects that transitional moment — struck at Sinope, a mint with deep Greek monetary traditions, his issues borrowed the weight standard and artistic conventions of the Black Sea Greek world rather than Achaemenid bullion practice. He was eventually captured by Perdiccas following Alexander's death and crucified around 322 BC, making his entire reign's output compressed into a narrow window. SNG BN 283 places this squarely among the earliest identifiable Cappadocian royal issues.