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Stater
| Issuer | Tarsos |
|---|---|
| Year | 440 BC - 400 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Mounted figure, identified by some scholars as Syennesis, the satrap of Cilicia, advancing to left on horseback. The rider extends his right hand forward holding a lotus flower, while his left hand grasps the reins. A bow and quiver in bowcase are secured to the saddle. A key symbol appears in the lower field beneath the horse, likely serving as a mint or magistrate mark. The style reflects the Achaemenid-influenced artistic tradition of Cilicia in the late fifth century BC. |
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| Mintage | ND (440 BC - 400 BC) |
| Additional information |
Tarsos, the principal city of Cilicia, operated under Persian-sanctioned autonomy during this period, with local dynasts issuing coinage to fund both civic administration and tribute obligations to the Achaemenid crown. The Cilician satraps exercised considerable latitude over their mints, and Tarsian staters of this era circulated widely across the eastern Mediterranean — turning up in hoards from Egypt to the Levant — largely because Persian military campaigns created constant demand for standardized silver payments to mercenary troops.
The SNG Levante 1 reference places this among the earliest and most canonical specimens of the series.