CNG 97, Lot: 260. Estimate $750. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Mallos. Tiribazos. Satrap of Lydia, 388-380 BC. AR Obol (10mm, 0.79 g, 4h). Struck circa 390/87-387/6 BC. Head of Aphrodite right / Head right, wearing satrapal headdress (bashlyk). Cf. Casabonne Series 2, Group Db; Göktürk –; SNG France –; SNG Levante 193 (uncertain mint). Good VF, toned, granular surface. Very rare.

There are two anepigraphic obols that have a bearded head in a bashlyk on the reverse, one with the head of Herakles on the obverse, the other, as this piece, with the head of Aphrodite. These two obols appear to directly parallel the two stater types issued by Tiribazos at Mallos (cf. SNG Levante 153 and 150, respectively), with the only difference being the absence of the ethnic. Casabonne notes this similarity, but is uncertain of the attribution. The absence of the ethnic, though, should not be overemphasized, as it may have been deemed unnecessary for a denomination that would likely not circulate outside the issuing city. In contrast, the exact parallel of the two types between the two denominations seems quite convincing. Casabonne further points out a smaller fraction (hemiobol? - SNG Levante 195) with a bearded head wearing a bashlyk on the obverse and a blank reverse, but the questionable identification of that coin should not have a bearing on determining the likely mint of the obols.