Stater

Historical Context: This silver stater from Mallos, 440-390 BC, places it within Cilicia's complex relationship with the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Mallos, a significant port city, maintained considerable local autonomy, including minting rights, despite Persian suzerainty. This era, concurrent with the Peloponnesian War, fostered dynamic regional trade, necessitating a stable currency. The absence of a specific ruler indicates civic issuance, reflecting the city's self-governance and economic vitality.

Artistry: Mallos staters of this period exemplify the Early to High Classical Greek style, often infused with distinctive Cilician iconographic elements. Specific engraver signatures are not attested for these civic issues. Typical obverse motifs include Herakles wrestling a lion, or a powerful winged male figure, frequently identified as Baal or a local hero. The reverse commonly displays intricate local cultic symbols, such as a winged solar disk or an ankh-like emblem, executed with robust artistic energy.

Technical/Grading: For optimal grading, focus on the highest points of relief. On obverse Herakles types, critical details include musculature, lion's mane and claws, and facial features. For winged figures, clarity of feathering, drapery, and expression is paramount. On the reverse, the completeness and sharpness of complex symbols or accompanying attributes are crucial. A well-centered, strong strike, free from significant planchet flaws or excessive die wear, is essential for a premium example of this 10.74g, 23mm issue.