Nomos 19

CILICIA. Tarsos. Circa 440-410 BC. Stater (Silver, 21 mm, 11.13 g, 11 h). Horseman (Syennesis?) riding a horse walking to left, wearing kyrbasia, holding lotus flower in his right hand and reins in his left, and with his bow in a bowcase on the elaborate saddle; behind horse to the right, eagle standing left on standard (?; here misstruck and off the flan); below horse, key symbol. Rev. TRZ (in Aramaic) Bearded Persian archer in kneeling-running stance to right, drawing bow and with a quiver over his shoulder; behind him to left, inscription above key symbol; all within a dotted border within an incuse square. Casabonne Type D2 variant. Very rare. Clear and attractive, with a very sharp obverse. About extremely fine.

This is a fascinating coin: on the obverse we see the ancient version of one of the mounted rulers of the European Middle Ages, though here without armor, riding a horse with a very decorative saddle cloth, an elaborate saddle and an ornamental tuft of hair on his head.