Tarsos, Cilicia (Pharnabazos Satrap)

[B]Tarsos, Cilicia (Pharnabazos satrap; 378 - 374 BC.) AR Stater[/B] [u]Obv[/u]: Bearded head of Ares wearing three-part crested Athenian helmet with movable double visor, facing left; PRNBZW (Aramaic legend for "Pharnabazos") to left and KLK (Aramaic legend for "Cilicia") to right. [u]Rev[/u]: Baaltars semi-clothed, seated left on diphros, holding lotus tipped sceptre in right hand; ankh-like monogram to left, astragalos below throne, BALTRZ (Aramaic legend) to right. [u]Attribution[/u]: Moysey 2, 42a/46b (pl.3, #28/30); SNG Levante 73 (this coin) [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. CNG 70 (9.21.05, #349); ex. Lanz 30 (11.26.84, #326). [u]Weight[/u]: 10.66 gm [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 22.03 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 5 [u]Note[/u]: Pharnabazos was a member of the Persian nobility with close connections to the Persian king, and satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, which later became the satrapy of Daskylion. When he was appointed satrap in 413/2 BC, Pharnabazos and Tissaphernes, the satrap of Lydia and Caria, were involved in negotiations between Sparta and the Persian Empire against Athens. As a result, Sparta received financial assistance from Persia. Lysander, the Spartan admiral, defeated the Athenian navy and thus forced Athens' surrender, and Persia itself would acquire control of the Greek cities in Asia. Tensions arose, however, among all the parties involved: Tissaphernes, because of his machinations against Pharnabazos, lost Lydia; Pharnabazos became rightly distrustful of Lysander and the Spartans, who saw events as an opportunity to expand their power in the Aegean; and the young Cyrus II, who had been sent to settle the difficulties that had arisen, was soon embroiled with his brother in a war over the Persian throne. GK183