CILICIA. Tarsos. Tarkumuwa (Datames), satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia, 384-361/0 BC. Obol (Silver, 10.5 mm, 0.75 g, 10 h), circa 380-361. Youthful male head facing, turned slightly to left, with drapery around his neck. Rev. Female draped bust (Aphrodite?) to right, diademed, and wearing a hoop earring and a pearl necklace. Casabonne Series 1. SNG Levante 217-8. SNG France 310-1. Sunrise 48. Sharp and lightly toned. Obverse struck slightly off-centre, otherwise, good very fine.

The obverse type is commonly described as a facing female head, but the lion skin tied around the neck--an extremely clear feature on this coin--indicates that the head is really that of a young Herakles. No doubt he is the Hellenized version of the old Hittite deity Sandan who continued to be worshiped at Tarsos into the Roman period.