Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos)

1 catalogued issue of Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Tiribazus, satrap in western Anatolia in the early fourth century BCE, belongs to the group of Achaemenid provincial governors who struck silver in their own names — the earliest coinage to carry identifiable individual portraits. Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 4 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Western Asia Minor.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
0

Key facts

Key facts about Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range4 CE
Eras representedAchaemenid Empire
MetalsSilver
MintsWestern Asia Minor
PeriodEarly 4th century BCE
RegionWestern Anatolia
LegendsAramaic and Greek
SignificanceAmong the earliest portrait coinages

Satrapal autonomy

Anatolian satraps managed frontier diplomacy, financed mercenaries and negotiated with Greek cities, and coinage was part of that toolkit. The king permitted issues in the satrap's name because they paid for imperial policy.

The result is a series with Aramaic or Greek legends, Persian dress and Greek engraving technique — the visual grammar of a hybrid frontier administration.

Attribution difficulties

Many satrapal issues carry no name or only a partial one, so attributions are provisional and stated with qualifiers such as 'probably Tiribazus'. Style, findspot and hoard association carry the argument.

That uncertainty is normal in the field and should be read as scholarly honesty rather than as a defect in the coin.

Achaemenid Empire · 550 – 330 BCE

Era overview →

Satrapal Coin of Asia Minor

Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos)

Early 4th century BCE

Among the earliest realistic portraits in Western coinage.

Frequently asked about Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos)

Could satraps issue their own coins?
Yes. Achaemenid provincial governors in the west struck silver in their own names to pay mercenaries and fund frontier policy, with royal tolerance.
Why is the attribution uncertain?
Many issues carry no legible name, so identification relies on style, hoard evidence and comparison — hence cautious labels like 'probably Tiribazus'.
What coins did Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) issue?
Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 4 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Western Asia Minor.
How many Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 4 CE, spread across 1 era: Achaemenid Empire.
Which metals were used for Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) coinage?
Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Where were Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos) coins minted?
Recorded mints include Western Asia Minor.

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