CILICIA. Tarsos. Tarkumuwa (Datames), satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia, 384-361/0 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.76 g, 1 h). Bust of Aphrodite (?) to right, wearing taenia, round earring and a pearl necklace; border of dots. Rev. No inscription Bearded male head (Ares ?) to right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised ear flaps; border of dots. Cf. Casabonne series 1, pl. 3, 22 ( obol with inscription ); Göktürk 25 ( obol with inscription ); SNG Levante 81( hemiobol (?) lacking an inscription ); SNG Paris 278 ( obol with inscription ). Very rare variant. Well-centered and attractively toned. About extremely fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions and from the collection of L. Mildenberg, acquired from H. S. von Aulock.

This is a fine example of a die engraver's mistake! The reverse ought to have had the Aramaic inscription TRDMW, but when the engraver finished his fine head of Ares he must have realised he had no room for the letters. The only thing that could be done was to either use the imperfect die, or throw it out (!) and make another; so they kept it!