A large, rare, and highly unusual Persian silver coin, this Tetradrachm is a masterpiece of ancient artistry and historical significance. Struck under Satrap Memnon in Ionia, these coins were likely used to pay Greek mercenaries as tensions with Macedonia mounted.
The obverse depicts a Babylonian-style king in full dress, poised for action with bow and spear, capturing the drama and authority of the era. The reverse is extraordinary: one of the earliest known Greek relief maps, illustrating the Ionian hinterlands around Ephesus, including mountains, rivers, and valleys—an invaluable window into ancient geography.
🔹 Material: Silver
🔹 Era: 336–333 BC, Satrap Memnon of Ionia
🔹 Type: Rare Persian Tetradrachm, Greek mercenary issue
🔹 Obverse: Babylonian-style king running into action with bow and spear
🔹 Reverse: Early Greek relief map of Ionian hinterlands
🔹 Condition: Beautifully preserved, sharp strike, high artistic quality
A coin that is both a historical document and a work of art, perfect for collectors of Persian, Greek, and ancient cartographic numismatics.