The province of Cilicia was so important to Alexander the Great. that he concentrated all local political and military power into the hands of one man, Balakros. This was in stark contrast to other regions where the offices of Satrap and local general were often held by two separate individuals. 

Previously, Balakros was one of Alexander's seven royal Somatophylakes or bodyguards. His troops fought at Gaugamela and helped defeat the Persian chariots. Later, after Alexander left for future battles in the east, Balakros participated in the retaking of Miletus and died shortly thereafter while fighting tribes located in the Taurus mountains.

Issued by the master engravers in Tarsus, this coin type retained the Baal of Tarsus on the reverse but substituted a dynamic obverse portrait of Athena for the more common previous bull fighting lion tableau. He signed these, and other coins, with the letter "B". On this type the monogram is located on the lower right field.