★ Ex JTB Collection, Triton XXIV ★

Cilicia. Kelenderis circa 430-420 BC.
Tetradrachm AR

22 mm, 10,64 g

Nude youth, holding whip, dismounting from horse rearing to left; Π below horse's belly / Goat kneeling to left, head to right; KEΛE above; all within shallow incuse circle.

Well-centred, lustrous, extremely fine

Casabonne Type 2; Celenderis Series II, 9 var. (O-/R5 [unlisted obv. die]); SNG BnF 52; SNG Levante -.

Ex JTB Collection, Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021, lot 735 (hammer: USD 3,250).

Kelenderis, an ancient city in Cilicia, located on the southeastern coast of modern-day Turkey, was founded by Samians around 700 BC. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast allowed the city to flourish as a significant maritime and trading hub. Though there are some remaining archaeological traces of its ancient structures, the most enduring and informative relics are its coins, which provide valuable insights into the city’s culture, economy, and social hierarchy. The majority of Kelenderis' coinage celebrates its horse-riding elite, who held a prominent position in society. A recurring scene on these coins depicts a specific moment in the kalpe, a race for mares that was popular in regions where horse breeding and ownership were tied to aristocratic status. In this event, particularly in the final lap, the horseman would dismount to run alongside his horse, leap onto its back, and then leap off again, all while holding the reins. This intricate maneuver was not only a demonstration of skill and control but also a display of the rider’s status and connection to the noble practice of horse ownership. Such scenes were not unique to Kelenderis. Other cities with strong equestrian traditions, such as Tarentum in southern Italy, also featured horsemen and cavalry on their coinage, emphasizing the shared cultural values across the Mediterranean where the aristocracy was often tied to horse ownership and military prowess. Kelenderis, through its coinage, reflects this broader societal trend, linking the city’s elite to the heroic and prestigious tradition of horsemanship.