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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;RaceBannon, post: 2013270, member: 25357&quot;]This coin is my latest ancient Greek pickup.</p><p><br /></p><p>The ancient city of Tarsus was located 10 km in from the coast in the region of Cilicia, which was situated on the south central coast of modern day Turkey, just north of the Island of Cyprus.</p><p>Tarsus was part of the Persian Satrapy from around 450 BC on to the mid 4th century BC when it became increasingly Hellenized.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]363018[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Pharnabazus II was&nbsp; Satrap (Protector of the Realm) of Cilicia under the Persian Empire.&nbsp; This coin was minted in Tarsus during the latter years his reign.&nbsp; Pharnabazus led Persian armies in support of Athens against Sparta during the Greek Cities civil wars of the 4th century BC.&nbsp; He also led Greek mercenaries against the rebellious kingdom of Egypt in 373.&nbsp; It is from this campaign that this coin is believed to have originated as payment to the Greek mercenaries under his command.&nbsp; There is debate in numismatic circles as to whether the image on the reverse of this coin is his likeness or represents Ares, the god of war.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Cilicia Tarsos; Time of Pharnabazus II, BC 387-373&nbsp; </b></p><p>AR Stater, 23mm/10.3g</p><p>OBV: Head of Arethusa facing slightly left wearing single pendant earrings and necklace</p><p>REV: HLK in Aramaic, Bearded head Left of Ares, wearing crested Athenian helmet with raised ear flap.</p><p>(SNG Lev 89)</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your Greek Stater coins!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]363019[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]363020[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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