★ Fine style ★

SATRAPS OF CARIA: Pixodaros (C. 340-335 BCE) AR Didrachm. Halikarnassos, 6.82g, 20mm.
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing three-quarters to the right.
Rev. ΠIΞΩΔAΡOΥ Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding long scepter in his left hand and double-axe in his right.
SNG Copenhagen 596-7; SNG von Aulock 2375-6.
From the Severus Alexander collection, ex Leu Numismatik Auction 1 lot 593, 25.06.2017.

Carian silver features some of the finest numismatic art from 4th century Asia Minor, and the facing portrait of Apollo on this coin is a good example.

Caria was unusual in permitting women to rule but they were still at a disadvantage, allowing Pixodaros to seize the throne from his sister, Ada. During his short reign he tried to be friendly with both the Persian king and Philip II of Macedon by marrying one of his daughters to a high-ranking Persian, and offering another (the eldest) to Alexander’s brother, Philip Arrhidaeus. Alexander offered himself in his brother's place, but Philip II put the kibosh on the whole idea. Pixodaros died at about the same time as Alexander's invasion of the Persian empire, after which Alexander re-installed his sister as satrap.