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Auction: 325 - Ancient Coins: The Squires Collection and The Mendon Collection
Lot: 120

Kings of Cappadocia. Ariarathes I (333-322 BC). AR Drachm. Sinope. 5.41 gms. Head of nymph left, her hair in sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, aplustre at left, M’ in Aramaic at right, rev. Sea eagle flying left, clutching dolphin in its talons, ARYDRT below in Aramaic. Simonetta 6; HGC 7, 434; SNG Copenhagen (Paphlagonia) 290, BMC Black Sea 1459. Very rare, Simonetta notes only six examples, seven pieces are listed in Coin Archives. During the wars of Alexander the Great, Ariarathes, the first king of Cappadocia, took Sinope and there struck this very rare series of coins. After Alexander’s death, Perdikkas appointed Eumenes as governor of Cappadocia, but Ariarathes refused to submit. Perdikkas warred upon Cappadocia. Ariarathes I was defeated, taken prisoner and crucified. Good Very Fine.