weight 14,38gr. ; silver Ø 27x23mm.

obv. Zeus Labraundos right, wearing long chiton and himation, long sceptre 
in his left hand, shouldering double axe (Labrys) with his right hand  
rev. Lion standing right in defensive posture, EKATOMNΩ above

This coin was minted at Mylasa, Hekatomnos′ native city and the seat of government during his reign.

cf. BMC page 180, 1 ; SNG.von Aulock 2354 ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; 
SNG.Kayhan 868 ; Keckman- ; Sunrise 76 ; Konuk, Identities 15 ;
Karl 3 ; Babelon, Traité II, 82-83 ; McClean- R
vf-/vf

weight 4,02gr. ; silver Ø 16mm.

obv. Lion′s head left with open jaws, its foreleg right beneath , above EKA 
rev. Ornamented star within incuse circle

This coin was minted at Mylasa, Hekatomnos′ native city and the seat of government during his reign. The image of this coin is clearly derived from the obols of Miletos from about 100 years earlier.

BMC Ionia 37-41 ; SNG.von Aulock  2356 ; SNG.Copenhagen 588-589 ;
SNG.Keckman 274 ; SNG.Kayhan 862 ; SNG.Lockett 2834 ; McClean 8514 ;
SNG Dewing 2375 ; Babelon, Traité II, 86 ; Konuk 9 ; Sear 4951 R
vf/xf

weight 2,02gr. ; silver Ø 13mm.

obv. Forepart of lion right, head turned to left, EKA above
rev. Ornamented star within incuse square

The hemidrachm is by far the rarest denomination of these Hekatomnos series.
The design is based on the obol from Miletos, struck a century earlier.

Sear- ; BMC- ; SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ;
SNG.Keckman- ; Sammlung Klein- ; SNG.Kayhan- RRRR
vf/xf

weight 1,34gr. ; silver Ø 12mm.
Minted according to the Milesian standard.

obv. Bearded head of Hekatomnos right
rev. Forepart of bull left, E before, within shallow round incuse

Hekatomnos was the son and successor of Hyssaldomus, a dynastic ruler of Mylasa. It is likely that Hekatomnos had been a supporter of Tissaphernes, the Persian satrap of Lower Asia, and might have been employed by him in the subordinate office of hyparch. Hekatomnos was appointed satrap of Caria by Artaxerxes II after the fall of Tissaphernes in 392/1 BC and was later given control of Miletos in 386 BC. He was appointed by the Persian king to take command over the naval forces destined to take part in the war against Evagoras I of Cyprus. Hekatomnos became the first satrap of Caria, which was until then part of other satrapies, usually that of Lydia. The designation of Caria as a separate satrapy was part of a reorganization of Persian power in western Anatolia by Artaxerxes II in the aftermath of Cyrus′s revolt. Hekatomnos was the first non-Persian official to be elevated to the position of satrap.

Hecatomnus was a native of Mylasa, and made that city his capital and the seat of his government. Hence the figure of Zeus Labraundos appears on his coins walking and carrying a labrys over his shoulder, from the celebrated temple of that name near Mylasa. Interested in Hellenic culture (and possibly hedging his diplomatic bets), Hekatomnos sent his youngest son, Pixodaros, to Athens as part of a deputation; his older son, Maussolos, was bound by xenia, or guest friendship, with Agesilaus, king of Sparta. Hekatomnos died in 377 BC and was succeeded by his eldest son Maussolos. He left three sons, Maussollos, Hidrieus and Pixodaros, and two daughters, Artemisia and Ada, who were married to their brothers, Maussollos and Hidrieus, all five of whom in turn succeeded him as rulers.

Winzer 13.1 ; SNG Copenhagen - ; Sear- ; BMC- ; HNO.1707 ;
Babelon, Traité II 2494 (as Pergamon) ; Konuk 2007, M48 R
Light traces of corrosion. Good portrait. Rare.
vf

weight 1,28gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.
Minted according to the Milesian standard.

obv. Young male head right
rev. Forepart of bull left within shallow round incuse

Hekatomnos was the son and successor of Hyssaldomus, a dynastic ruler of Mylasa. It is likely that Hekatomnos had been a supporter of Tissaphernes, the Persian satrap of Lower Asia, and might have been employed by him in the subordinate office of hyparch. Hekatomnos was appointed satrap of Caria by Artaxerxes II after the fall of Tissaphernes in 392/1 BC and was later given control of Miletos in 386 BC. He was appointed by the Persian king to take command over the naval forces destined to take part in the war against Evagoras I of Cyprus. Hekatomnos became the first satrap of Caria, which was until then part of other satrapies, usually that of Lydia. The designation of Caria as a separate satrapy was part of a reorganization of Persian power in western Anatolia by Artaxerxes II in the aftermath of Cyrus′s revolt. Hekatomnos was the first non-Persian official to be elevated to the position of satrap.

Hecatomnus was a native of Mylasa, and made that city his capital and the seat of his government. Hence the figure of Zeus Labraundos appears on his coins walking and carrying a labrys over his shoulder, from the celebrated temple of that name near Mylasa. Interested in Hellenic culture (and possibly hedging his diplomatic bets), Hekatomnos sent his youngest son, Pixodaros, to Athens as part of a deputation; his older son, Maussolos, was bound by xenia, or guest friendship, with Agesilaus, king of Sparta. Hekatomnos died in 377 BC and was succeeded by his eldest son Maussolos. He left three sons, Maussollos, Hidrieus and Pixodaros, and two daughters, Artemisia and Ada, who were married to their brothers, Maussollos and Hidrieus, all five of whom in turn succeeded him as rulers.

With this coin type we usually see a letter E (for Ekatomnos) on the shoulder of the bull or in the field on the obverse or reverse. There is no letter E visible on this specimen. As such very rare.

cf. SNG Kayhan II, 1716 ; cf. Konuk 2007, M47 ;
Babelon, Traité - (cf. 2494 as Pergamon ; Pl.CLXIX, 24) ;
SNG.Copenhagen- ; HNO.2402 RR
vf-/vf

weight 0,87gr. ; silver Ø 9mm.

obv. Lion′s head left with open jaws, its foreleg right beneath , above E
rev. Ornamented star within incuse square

This coin was minted at Mylasa, Hekatomnos′ native city and the seat of government during his reign. The image of this coin is clearly derived from the obols of Miletos from about 100 years earlier.

Sear- ; BMC- ; SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; McClean- ;
SNG.Keckman- ; SNG.Kayhan 864-866 ; Sammlung Klein 505 R
vf/xf

weight 15,27gr. ; silver Ø 22mm.

obv. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath
rev. Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and spear,
MAYΣΣΩΛΛO(Σ) in field to right

Maussollos embraced Hellenic culture. He is best known for the monumental shrine, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos. Antipater of Sidon listed the Mausoleum as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Perfectly centered and struck in high relief. A lovely portrait of enchanting beauty,
the work of a very skilled master-engraver.

cf. NAC, auction 125, lot 328 (in xf ; SFR 17.000 + 21%)
(note; the specimen offered there is much weaker in detail and over-graded, certainly not xf)

BMC 1-2 ; SNG.Copenhagen 590 ; SNG.von Aulock 2359-2360var. (letters in field) ;
Weber collection 6601 ; McClean 8519 ; Babelon, Traité II/2, page 148 (Pl.XC, 2) ;
Gulbenkian 2, 781 ;  K. Konuk , The Coinage of the Hekatomnids of Caria,
Oxford 1998, page 236, no. 26 (plate 13, 26) ; Jameson coll.1566var. ; Sear 4954 R
xf-/xf

weight 15,22gr. ; silver Ø 22mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right,
wearing chlamys around neck, fixed with circular fibula
rev. Zeus Labraundos, wearing chiton and himation, standing right,
holding scepter with his left hand, double axe (labrys) over shoulder
with his right hand; tiny O between spear and cloak,
MAYΣΣΩΛΛO(Σ) in field to right

Maussollos was the eldest son of Hekatomnos und succeeded him after his death in 377 BC. At the time of Maussollos’ accession, Achaemenid power was weakened by the independence of Egypt and a revolt of the subject Kadusioi. As a result, the satraps of Asia Minor were able to exercise considerable independence; an opportunity of which Maussolos took full advantage. Moving the satrapal capital to Halikarnassos, he fortified the city and allowed its population to increase in size. In addition, Maussollos moved and refounded the Greek cities of Knidos, Erythrai, and Priene. His charge was to be a satrap under the Persians but he virtually functioned as an independent kingdom. Not only was Caria under his leadership but a considerable section of Ionia and Lycia on the western coast of Asia Minor. He instigated fighting amongst the Greek islands allegiant with Athens in order to protect his cities and expand his power. The wars of Athens against its allies from 357-355 BC were a direct result of his meddling. Maussollos was successful in his plan and separated Athens from many of its allied Greek city states. He then started to drive out the democratic rulers and replace them with oligarchies that were obedient to himself. Maussollos took part in the Revolt of the Satraps, both on his nominal sovereign Artaxerxes Mnemon′s side and (briefly) against him; conquered a great part of Lycia, Ionia and several Greek islands; and cooperated with the Rhodians in the Social War against Athens. His relations with the Persians took a downturn when he briefly joined the Great Satrap Revolt, a series of rebellions that continued to spring up in the Persian Empire throughout the 360s, all of which ultimately failed. For the remainder of his rule thereafter, Maussolos continued to act more or less independently, although he had to accept a Persian garrison in Halikarnassos.

Maussollos embraced Hellenic culture. He is best known for the monumental shrine, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos; as part of the civic building program, he constructed a massive tomb for himself near the city’s center, known later as the Mausoleum. Antipater of Sidon listed the Mausoleum as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The architects Satyrus and Pythis, and the sculptors Scopas of Paros, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timotheus, finished the work after the death of Artemisia, some of them working, it was said, purely for renown. The site and a few remains can still be seen in the Turkish town of Bodrum. The term mausoleum has come to be used generically for any grand tomb. When Maussollos died in 353/2 BC, his sister-wife, Artemisia, succeeded him. Her rule, however, was short-lived, and in 351/0 BC power passed to Hidrieus, Artemisia′s brother and the second son of Hekatomnos.

cf. NAC, auction 125, lot 328 (in xf- ; SFR 17.000 + 21%)

BMC 1var. ; SNG.Copenhagen 590var. ; SNG.von Aulock 2359 ;
Hurter, Pixodaros Hoard, Pl. 33,36 ; Weber collection 6601var. ;
McClean 8519var. ; cf. Babelon, Traité II/2, page 148-150 (cf. Pl.XC, 2-5) ;
Jameson collection 1566 ; Gulbenkian 2, 781-785var. ; Sear 4954var.  RR
Perfectly centered and struck in high relief. A lovely portrait
of enchanting beauty, the work of a very skilled master-engraver.
vf/xf

weight 3,21gr. ; silver Ø 14mm.

obv. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath
rev. Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and spear,
wreath in left field, MAYΣΣΩΛΛO(Σ) in right field

Maussollos embraced Hellenic culture. He is best known for the monumental shrine, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos. Antipater of Sidon listed the Mausoleum as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

BMC 14 ; SNG.Copenhagen 592 ; SNG.von Aulock 2365 ;
SNG.Tübingen 3330 ; McClean- (cf. 8520) ; SNG. Kayhan 879 ;
SNG.Keckman- (cf. 276) ; Sear 4956var. ; Weber collection 6603var. ;
Jameson collection- ; Babelon, Traité Vol.II, page 150, no.97 ;
Konuk 357 ; SNG.Kayhan 877 R
Light traces of corrosion. Attractive style. Rare.
vf-

weight 15,16gr. ; silver Ø 23mm.

obv. Facing, laureate head of Apollo, slightly turned to the right
rev. Bearded Zeus Labraundos standing right, wearing chiton and
himation; he holds long sceptre with his left hand, with his right
hand double axe over his right shoulder; letter I behind, IΔPIEΩΣ
in field to right

Hidrieus (or Idrieus) was the second son of Hekatomnos. He succeeded to the throne of Caria on the death of his sister Artemisia II, sister-wife of Maussollos, in 351 BC. Shortly after his accession he was required by the Persian king, Artaxerxes III Ochus, to provide arms and troops for the capture of Cyprus, a request with which he readily complied. He equipped a fleet of 40 triremes and assembled an army of 8000 mercenary troops. These were despatched for use against Cyprus under the command of Evagoras and the Athenian general Phocion. This is the only recorded event preserved from his reign. However; it can be inferred from Isocrates that by 346 BC the friendly relations between Hidrieus and the Persian king had not continued and there appears to have been open hostility between the two. But the hostility of Persia did not interfere with Caria′s prosperity, for in the same passage by Isocrates, Hidrieus is described as one of the most wealthy and powerful of the princes of Asia and Demosthenes advises that Hidrieus had added the important islands of Chios, Kos, and Rhodes to his hereditary dominions.

That Hidrieus was an active builder is attested in Halikarnassos, as it is he who must have finished the Mausoleum, the tomb of his brother Maussollos, begun by their sister, Mausollos′ wife, and his own immediate predecessor, Artemisia II, which had been left unfinished at her death; and at Labraunda, where, continuing the enrichment in the Hellenistic style undertaken there earlier by Mausollos, he restored the temple of Zeus, added the southern and eastern entrances, and built the ′Doric house′. Hidrieus may have been engaged in clandestine diplomatic negotiations with Philip II of Macedonia against Persia. Either way, by 344/3 BC, the rebellion in Cyprus was crushed and Hidrieus died of a disease in 344 BC, after a reign of seven years, leaving in his will the sovereign power over Caria to his sister Ada, to whom he had been married.

BMC 1var. ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.von Aulock- (cf. 8046) ;
Boston 253, 2000 ; SNG.Keckman- ; SNG.Kayhan 880var. ;
S. Hurter, The "Pixodaros Hoard": A Summary, Studies Price pl. 33,45.
McClean 8521 ; cf. Babelon, Traité II, page 151, no.100 ; Sear 4958var. ;
Jameson collection 1568var. R
Well centered and struck in high relief. A lovely portrait of Apollo.
Masterpiece of an artist die-cutter.
xf-

weight 6,84gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.

obv. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath
rev. Zeus Labraundos standing right, wearing chiton and himation,
holding double axe over right shoulder, long lotus-headed sceptre
in left hand; PIXΩΔAPOY inscribed vertically right.

A lovely portrait of enchanting beauty,
the work of a very skilled master-engraver.

BMC 5 ; SNG.Copenhagen 597; SNG.von Aulock 2375 ;
SNG.Keckman 280 ; McClean 8524 ; SNG.Kayhan 891 ;
Konuk, Identities 30 ; Babelon, Perses 414–21 ;
Babelon, Traité II, page 155, no.111 (Pl.XC, 19- 20) ;
Sear 4966 ; HN Online 241
Some flatness on the obverse. Attractive toning.
vf/xf