Mesopotamian Shekel

Mesopotamian Shekel / Obol

This coin features Baaltars (the Baal of Tarsus), a major storm and sky deity of the ancient Near East and Anatolia whom the Greeks equated with Zeus.

While often categorized broadly with Mesopotamian and Alexandrian imperial coinages due to the issuer's later history, this specific coin type is a silver fraction (likely an obol) originally minted in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) under the authority of one of the most famous Persian governors of the ancient world.

The Inscription: Mazaeus (Mazdai)

The vertical Aramaic inscription reading downward on the right side of the coin explicitly names the man who minted it:

$$\text{𐡌𐡆𐡃𐡉} \rightarrow \text{M-Z-D-I} \rightarrow \textbf{Mazdai (Mazaeus)}$$

Mazaeus was a powerful Persian nobleman who served as the Satrap (governor) of Cilicia and "Across the River" (Syria/Levant) under the Achaemenid Empire from roughly 361 to 334 BCE.

Visual & Numismatic Breakdown

• The Figure: Baaltars is depicted half-frontal with his head turned left, sitting on a backless, turned-leg stool (diphros). He is bare-chested, with a mantle (himation) draped around his lower torso and legs.

• The Attributes: He holds a long, lotus-tipped scepter in his extended right hand, while his left hand rests firmly on his hip or waist.

• The Border: The entire scene is encircled by a decorative beaded border.

On larger silver coins (staters) from this era, Baaltars usually occupies the front side with the inscription B'LTRZ ("Baaltars"), while a lion attacking a bull appears on the reverse alongside Mazaeus's name. However, on smaller divisional denominations like this obol, the design was simplified, placing the governor’s personal name directly next to the enthroned god.

The Mesopotamian Connection

Though minted in Tarsus, this coin is deeply intertwined with Mesopotamian history because of Mazaeus's final act.

When Alexander the Great invaded the Persian Empire, Mazaeus commanded the Persian forces at the fateful Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE). Following the Persian defeat, he retreated to Babylon. Rather than let the ancient city be destroyed in a futile siege, Mazaeus open-surrendered Babylon to Alexander. Recognizing his immense administrative talent and pragmatism, Alexander rewarded him by making him the Macedonian Satrap of Babylon—marking the first time Alexander appointed a Persian to such a high position in his new empire.