Glad I could be of
help Chris! Nice example.
There is much speculation as to the purpose, and many of the
hoards containing the
Cappadocia coins were unearthed in
Syria, but I think the theories around purpose remain speculation, absent more knowledge.
For example, some variants of this coin list ariarathes' name in place of antiochus' name. I doubt that would be done to coins meant only to circulate abroad.
If I
had to guess, I would say that Syrian tetradrachms were likely established heavy currency in the region, and the government found it useful to
mint more, perhaps needing larger
denominations than the drachms bearing their own rulers' busts that they were more accustomed to minting.
I would see that situation similar to what happened with shekels of Tyre in Judea.