A stater from Mazaios of Tarsos in Cilicia
obv :Baal of Tarsos seated left on throne,head facing;holding eagle,grain ear,bunch of grapes and sceptre ; Aramic inscription B'LTRZ right , under grapes TN , under throne monogram M . Sceptre is ending in a lotus flower.
mint : Tarsos , 24 mm , 10.44 gr ,
Mazaios : 361/360 - 334 - +328.
Ref : Casabonne,Series2,group C
B'LTRZ = Baal (of) Tarsos
MZDI = Mazday = Greek Mazaios
rev : lion atacking bull left , above Aramic inscription : MZDI , under monogran ressenbling an ankh
for Mazaios :
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/mazaeusI bought this coin for the representation of Baal as model for the representation of Zeus on the coins of Alexander .
The lotus)tipped scepter is also a detail that comes back on different coins of Cilicia , for exemple the coins of Oinoanda .
The reverse also is very interesting : the coin is from the period Mazaios was satrap of Cilicia , in mythology Baal is represented by a lion and Zeus by a bull : so Baal ( the Persian king) is attacking Zeus ( Alexander) , I don t know if it is a correct explanation , but it is possible ,regarding coins as a tool for making propaganda . albert

