| The Persian Empire |  |
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| Persian Empire, Carian Satraps, Hekatomnos, c. 395 - 377 B.C. |   | Hecatomnus was a native of Mylasa, which he made his capital and the seat of his government. His coins depict Zeus Labrandenos from the celebrated temple of that name near Mylasa. The Persian emperor appointed Hecatomnus to command naval forces in the war against Evagoras of Cyprus, but he not only took no part in support of the Emperor, but secretly supplied Evagoras with money for mercenaries. The disorganized Persian monarchy took no action against Hecatomnus and he continued to rule Caria until his death. He left three sons, Mausolus, Idrieus and Pixodarus - all of whom - in their turn, succeeded him in the sovereignty. |
| SH63978. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Kayhan 868 - 869, SNGvA 2354, Traité II 83, SNG Cop -, VF, minor scratches, weight 14.383 g, maximum diameter 24.4 mm, die axis 90o, Mylasa mint, c. 390 - 385 A.D.; obverse Zeus Labraundos marching right, wearing chiton and himation, labrys in right, spear in left; reverse ΕΚΑΤΟΜΝΩ, lion crouching right; ex Heritage Long Beach Signature Sale 3020 (6 Sep 2012, est. $2,000 - 3,000, unsold); $1000.00 (€770.00) |
| Persian Empire, Carian Satraps, Pixodaros, c. 340 - 335 B.C. |  | Pixodarus was the youngest of the three sons of Hecatomnus, all of whom successively ruled. To secure the friendship of Philip II, king of Macedonia, Pixodarus offered his eldest daughter in marriage to his Philip's son Arrhidaeus. Arrhidaeus' ambitious younger brother, Alexander (later Alexander the Great) offered himself instead. Pixodarus eagerly agreed but Philip put an end to the scheme. Pixodarus died, apparently a natural death, before Alexander landed in Asia in 334 B.C. and was succeeded by his Persian son-in-law Orontobates. |
| SH63582. Silver didrachm, SNGvA 2375, SNG Cop 597, SNG Keckman 280, SNG Kayhan 891, SNG Lockett 2913, SGCV II 4966, aVF, porous, weight 6.541 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 0o, Mylasa mint, c. 340 - 335 B.C.; obverse head of Apollo facing slightly right; reverse ΠΙΞΩ∆ΑΡΟΥ, Zeus Labraundos standing right, labrys (double-headed axe) over shoulder in right, lotus-tipped scepter vertical in left; $850.00 (€654.50) |
| Persian Empire, Uncertain Satrap, Mylasa(?), Caria, c. 350 - 341 B.C. |  | The Pixodarus Hoard included only examples, similar to our coin, without symbols or letters in the fields, thus dating the earliest of the type to c. 350 B.C. and dating those with symbols to after the deposit date, 341 B.C. In that period, many possible Satraps could have been the issuer.
The type may have been issued by Memnon, the famous and worthy adversary of Alexander. As a Carian, Greek-style issue, the type was likely issued for the hire of Greek mercenaries. Memnon co-commanded local forces before the defeat at the Granicus and afterwards was in charge of all forces in Western Asia Minor. At Granicus he was joined on the left wing (where Alexander charged) by Orontobates, the son-in-law of Pixodaros. Memnon was a 'rebel' Greek (actually Rhodian) commander and a very competent one at that. He sailed away from the siege at Halicaranassos and became a thorn in Alexander's side, threatening his lines of communication and more than once capturing the coastal towns and islands as the conqueror moved South. He fell ill and died before he could more greatly affect the invasion, a great loss to the faltering Persian Empire.
Another possible issuer is Orontobates, the Satrap of Caria after the death of Pixodaros. Orontobates assisted in the defence of Halicarnassos, and was later at Gaugemela, afterward he is not heard of again and we presume he died.
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| SH63536. Silver tetradrachm, Konuk Influences, Group 2, p. 178, pl. XXX, 10; Pixodarus Hoard pp. 210-212; SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, F, weight 14.195 g, maximum diameter 22.3 mm, die axis 0o, Mylasa(?) mint, c. 350 - 341 B.C.; obverse Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow, quiver on shoulder; reverse Persian satrap on horseback charging right, thrusting downward with spear; rare; $700.00 (€539.00) |
| Persian Empire, Dynasts of Lycia, Uncertain Dynast, c. 520 - 480 B.C. |  | | Minted in Lycia, Anatolia while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. |
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| SH63914. Silver stater, SNG Cop Supp. 370, SNGvA 4049 - 4050, VF, soft strike, weight 8.701 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 90o, Lycian mint, c. 520 - 480 B.C.; obverse forepart of a boar left; reverse Incuse with square projections entering from three sides, transected by crossed narrow lines; $500.00 (€385.00) |
| Persian Empire, Judaea (Yehudah), 375 - 333 B.C. |  | | Minted in Judaea while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. |
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| SH54928. Silver half-gerah, Hendin 1059, Meshorer TJC 16, Fine, weight 0.214 g, maximum diameter 6.4 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, c. 350 B.C.; obverse diademed head to right; reverse Aramaic inscription: YHDH (Yehudah), falcon with wings spread, head right; ex Amphora Coins (David Hendin); rare; $360.00 (€277.20) |
| Lycia, Lycian Dynasts, Kuprlli, c. 460 - 440 B.C. |  | |
| SH58760. Silver diobol, Vismara -, SNGvA -, BMC Lycia -, SNG Cop -, Weber -, SNG Kayhan -, Traité -, cf. Rosen 722 (0.702g, twelfth), VF, weight 1.409 g, maximum diameter 11.3 mm, Lycian mint, c. 460 - 440 B.C.; obverse round shield ornamented with a goat kneeling left, helmet above; reverse triskeles, circular dot border, all in a round incuse punch; not in sources consulted, perhaps unpublished; extremely rare; $300.00 (€231.00) |
| Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Artaxerxes I - Artaxerxes II, c. 455 - 375 B.C. |  | | Minted in Lydia, Anatolia while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. |
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| GA57457. Silver siglos, Carradice Type IV A/B; SGCV II 4683, aVF, uneven strike, weight 5.556 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, obverse kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, dagger in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned; reverse irregular oblong punch; $165.00 (€127.05) |
| Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius II - Artaxerxes II, c. 420 - 375 B.C. |  | | Minted in Lydia, Anatolia while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. |
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| GA56988. Silver siglos, Carradice Type IV (middle) B, Carradice Price p. 73 and pl. 19, 217 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1033; SGCV II 4683, VF, weight 5.420 g, maximum diameter 17.2 mm, obverse Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, dagger in right, bow in left, quiver on right shoulder, crowned, waist indicated, pellets on sleeves; reverse irregular oblong punch; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Persian Empire, Gebal-Byblos, Addirmilk and Aynel, c. 348 - 332 B.C. |  | Aynel is the Enylus of Greek histories who surrendered Byblos to Alexander in 332 B.C. and later joined Alexander with a fleet. |
| GS63278. Silver 1/16 shekel, cf. Betlyon 21; SNG Cop 134; BMC Phoenicia p. 96, 8 - 9, gVF, obv off center, excellent reverse, weight 0.807 g, maximum diameter 10.2 mm, die axis 0o, Byblos mint, c. 334 - 333 B.C.; obverse galley left with two hoplites, hippocamp below, Phoenician letters (alef and kaph?) above tail; reverse abbreviated Phoenician legend, "Aynel and Addirmilk, kings of Gebal", lion bringing down a bull; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius II - Artaxerxes II, c. 420 - 375 B.C. |  | | Minted in Lydia, Anatolia while under Persian control, prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. |
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| GA56974. Silver siglos, Carradice Type IV (middle) B, Carradice Price p. 73 and pl. 19, 217 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1033; SGCV II 4683, F, weight 5.556 g, maximum diameter 14.6 mm, obverse Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, dagger in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned, pellets on sleeves; reverse irregular oblong punch; $140.00 (€107.80) |
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