Pharaonic Portraits on a Cilician Coin

355, Lot: 161. Estimate $200. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Myriandros. 343-332 BC. AR Obol (1010mm, 0.71 g, 11h). King of Persia (Artaxerxes III?) seated right on throne with back terminating in griffin’s head, wearing double crown, holding a lotus flower and [lotus-tipped scepter] / Youthful male head (Artaxerxes IV?) left, wearing earring and double crown. Göktürk 35; SNG France 429; SNG Levante –. Near EF, toned, off center, some weakness on obverse.

Although this issue has long been known, it was only in 2000 that the types were properly interpreted (Frank L. Kovacs, “Two Persian Pharaonic Portraits,” JNG [2000], pp. 55-60). Kovacs argues that the crown being worn by both the figure on the obverse and reverse is none other than the atef crown of the Pharaohs, a composite headdress signifying their rule over Upper and Lower Egypt. Logically, this coin would have to date to the Thirty–First Dynasty, when Egypt was ruled by the Achaemenids following the overthrow of Nektanebo II, the last native pharaoh of Egypt. Kovacs suggests the figure on the obverse is Artaxerxes III Ochos, and that on the reverse is Artaxerxes IV Arses. The issue may have been struck to commemorate Artaxerxes IV’s elevation to crown prince (circa 343-338 BC) or on his succession (336 BC).