Ancient Archaic Period - 400-301 BCE Cilicia, Uncertain Mint AR Obol NGC Choice AU

From the Faces in Time Collection of Ancient coinage (13).

Cilicia, uncertain mint AR (silver) Obol. Circa 4th century BC. Obverse: Facing head of Herakles, wearing lion skin headdress; all within circular beaded border. Reverse: Eagle standing to left on stag's head; all within rectangular beaded border. Göktürk 42; SNG BnF 472; SNG Levante 229; SNG von Aulock 5424. 0.70g, 9mm, 12h.

Ruins of ancient Cilicia in modern-day Turkey.

In ancient times Cilicia (also Kilikia) was a southern coastal region of Anatolia. It stretched inland north from the coast of the Mediterranean, east from Pamphyia, to the Amanus Mountains, which cut it off from Syria. At first, the Persian Empire permitted tributary native kings to govern Cilicia. However, the last king of Cilicia was ousted after he sided with Cyrus the Younger in a civil war; they were defeated by Artaxerxes II. Thereafter Cilicia became an ordinary satrapy.