Obolos 35

CILICIA. Uncertain mint. 4th Century BC . Obol (Silver, 11 mm, 0.58 g, 6 h). Female head (Arethusa?) facing, wearing triple-pendant earrings. Rev. Male head to left, wearing Corinthian helmet. SNG Paris 477. SNG Levante 248. Attractively toned. Minor roughness and with some light marks, otherwise, very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, and from the collections of Leo Mildenberg (acquired in 1980s) and that of Hans von Aulock.

The types of this coin have been consistently misdescribed over the years in collection and sale catalogues. While the wild hair of the facing head on the obverse does suggest the serpent hair of a gorgoneion, the triple-pendant earrings seem to indicate that head was intended to imitate Kimon's facing depiction of Arethusa for the coinage of Syracuse-a prototype that enjoyed popularity on other Cilician coins. Likewise,
The short hair of the reverse helmeted head suggests that it is a male and therefore not Athena as is usually stated.