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CARIAN ISLANDS, KOS - PHILODAMOS, magistrate - AR Tetradrachm, circa 366-340 BC
weight 15,03gr. ; silver Ø 24mm.
obv. Head of bearded Herakles (Maussollos ?) right, clad in the skin of a lion
rev. Veiled female head (Artemisia ?) left, behind ΦIΛOΔAM
The portraits on the obverse and reverse are also regarded as those of Maussollos, Carian satrap, and his wife Artemisia. According to the Greek mythology, Kos is the sacred land of Asclepius, the god of healing. Archaeological findings prove that the history of Kos starts from the prehistoric times. The Minoans settled on the island around the 14th century BC, followed by the Achaeans and, a few centuries later, the Dorians came and built the ancient city of Kos. The Persians conquered the island of Kos during the 5th century BC, but were defeated by the Athenians who took control of the island during the battle of Salamina. 460 BC is the year during which Hippocrates (lived c. 460-375 BC), the father of Medicine and founder of the first School of Medicine, was born. After his death in 375, the inhabitants of Kos built the sanctuary of Asklepeion honoring Hippocrates and the god Asklepios. It was used as a hospital, welcoming patients from all over the Mediterranean, with doctors who applied the therapeutic methods of Hippocrates. During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), Kos was an ally of Athens. That is why the island had to pay a high tribute when the Spartians invaded it in 411 BC. In 394 BC, Kos became again an ally with Athens and democracy was introduced on Kos. This period was characterized by a cultural, educational and economical growth. In 335 BC, the island of Kos became a part of the Macedonian Empire. After the death of Alexander the Great, his successors the Ptolemies took control of the island and of the rest of the Dodecanese. Kos became a part of the Eastern colony of the Roman Empire after 82 BC.
The Hellenistic tetradrachms of Kos are often badly struck or corroded.
This example is very attractive for the type. Very rare.
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen-; SNG.von Aulock- ; Babelon, Traité- ;
Weber collection 662 ; Jameson collection- ; SNG.Delepierre-; Pozzi collection- ;
Ashton ,the Pixodaros Hoard 19 ; SNG.Keckman- RR
Light flatness on reverse and minor traces of oxidation.
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CARIAN ISLANDS, KOS - ARISTOMENOS, magistrate - AR Tetradrachm, circa 285-258 BC
weight 14,93gr. ; silver Ø 27mm.
obv. Head of young Herakles, clad in lion′s skin
rev. Crab, KΩION above, APIΣTOMENHΣ and bow in case below
Very rare issue, known from one die pair. This remarkable attractive piece is struck on a broad flan of excellent metal, is among the epitome of the pieces remaining today.
cf. Nomos, auction 3, 10 may 2011, lot 137 (in xf ; CHF 18.000 + 18%)
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen.- ; SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Keckman- ;
SNG.Tübingen- ; McClean- ; Weber collection- ; SNG.Kayhan- ;
Karl- ; Babelon, Traité II, 1748 ; Requier 68 (D14/R56) ;
Ingvaldsen, Kos 17 (O5/R13); Sear- (cf. 4990) ; HGC 6, 1308 RR
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS, IALYSOS - AR 1/24 Stater or hemiobol, circa 480-408 BC
weight 0,60gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.
obv. Forepart of winged boar left
rev. Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet, within square incuse
Ialyssos used to be one of three earliest city-states on Rhodes Island, together with Lindos and Kamiros. Ancient Ialyssos is strategically located about 10 to 15 km away from the present town of Rhodes. It is nicely perched on top of a fortified hill. As a protective measure in the year 480 BC, Ancient Ialyssos formed a confederation with the other two city states. The three cities combined together shifted the capital of the Rhodes to where the modern Rhodes Town is located. The city began to decline after Rhodes was founded and it was completely destroyed probably in 155 AD by an earthquake.
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.von Aulock- ;
SNG.Keckman 312 ; SNG.München 563 ; Sear- RR
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Tetradrachm, circa 408-394 BC
weight 14,98gr. ; silver Ø 25mm.
obv. Head of Helios facing slightly right
rev. Rose in profile, with bud to left and right side; POΔION above,
A in lower left field, Corinthian helmet in lower right field
The polis of Rhodos was created out of a synoecism of the cities of Ialysos, Kamiros, and Lindos in 408/7 BC, and immediately began to issue a series of coinage that endured until the Roman era. The rose was chosen as the perennial reverse type, a punning allusion to the city′s name. The obverse type was usually the head of Helios, the patron deity of the new polis, but occasionally the nymph Rhodos appeared. Until the end of the Rhodian series, these types adorned the coins, with a few exceptional issues that featured novel designs. The Chian standard was employed, although after a reduction in the late 340s, the standard is commonly called ′Rhodian′. The first issue of Rhodian coinage was a brief, yet large, issue of tetradrachms that stand among the finest pieces of Classical Greek numismatic art. On the obverse, the head of Helios is displayed in a nearly frontal position. Such facing head coins were not novel by this time, but the boldness of the design and the particularly high relief of the dies sets the Rhodian coinage apart from all others. Moreover, this facing head type remained the standard obverse type for most of the Rhodian issues into the first century AD. The tetradrachm was the primary denomination until the later 4th century, when the didrachm became preeminent. Both of these denominations were supplemented by a wide variety of fractions, in both silver and bronze, and the tetradrachm was also issued on occasion after the 4th century.
Around 190 BC, the coinage system was completely reorganized, with the primary denomination being the drachm, struck on a standard called ′plinthophoric′ for the square incuse around the reverse type (plinthos = brick or ingot). Gold coinage was issued on only very rare occasions, and not until the 2nd century BC. As noted by Ashton, the coinage was issued fairly regularly, with occasional spikes in production that correlate to either construction work (e.g. the building of the Colossus) or military necessity. As a primary trading center in the Mediterranean, it is not surprising that the bulk of the coinage of Rhodes appears to have been used for regular state expenditure, such as maintaining its fleet, paying mercenaries, making contributions to the Nesiotic League (revived by Rhodes circa 200 BC), paying state officials, and maintaining a system that cared for its needy citizens (Ashton, pp. 96-7). The massive amount of coinage struck by Rhodes is evidenced by the adoption of the Rhodian weight standard by many other cities in the Hellenistic period, as well as the large amounts of Rhodian coins found in hoards today.
This is tetradrachm belongs to the very first series of Rhodian coins, minted shortly after the foundation of the new capital of Rhodos. The head of Helios on this coin is surely struck from a die engraved by an artist of great skills, in the style of the Syracusian artists Eukleidas and Kimon. Probably the letter A on the reverse refers to his name. Coin of great classical style and of the highest rarity.
BMC - ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Keckman - ;
SNG.Tübingen - ; SNG.Delepierre - ; McClean- ; Hecatomnus 70c ;
Bérend in SNR 51(1972), nr.44 (this coin) ; Jameson - ; Sear- ;
HGC - (cf. 1418) ; Pozzi collection- ; Hunterian collection- RRRR
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Hemidrachme, 408-394 BC
weight 1,77gr. ; silver Ø 12mm.
obv. Head of Helios three-quarter face to right
rev. Rose between P - O wintin incuse square
This is one of the first Rhodian coins minted after the foundation of the new capital of Rhodos. The head of Helios on this coin is surely struck from a die engraved by an artist of great talent, one who undoubtedly was responsible for tetradrachms as well.
BMC 3-7 ; SNG.Copenhagen 725 ; SNG.von Aulock 2785 ; SNG.Keckman 367 ;
SNG.Tübingen 3555 ; SNG.Delepierre 2746 ; cf. McClean 8563 ;
Ashton, Meadows & Shipton (2001), p. 100, 19 ; cf. Sear 5030 R
(cf. Nomos, auction 15, 22 october 2017, lot 163 xf with flanfault; CHF 850 + 20%)
Very attractive coin of good style. Hard to find this nice. Rare.
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Didrachm, circa 340-316 BC
weight 6,56gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of Helios facing slightly right
rev. Rose, bud to right, bunch of grapes and E to left,
POΔION above, all within incuse square
BMC 27-29 ; SNG.Copenhagen 728 ; cf. SNG.von Aulock 2790 ;
SNG.Keckman 438 ;Ashton, RN.1988, pp.77-86 (series 1a) ;
Ashton 98 ; McClean 8568 ; Ashton, Colossus, Series 1a ; HGC 6, 1433 ;
Babelon, Traité, pl.CXLVII, 11Sear- (cf. 5037)
fine classical style
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Didrachm, circa 304-275 BC
weight 6,60gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of helios three-quarter face to right
rev. Rose with a bud on stem to right, on left bunch of grapes hanging
from stalk attached to rose, E - Y across inner field, POΔION above
SNG.Copenhagen 729var. ; Ashton, RN.1988, pp.78-86 (series 2) ;
cf. SNG. Tübingen 3556 ; cf. Babelon, Traité II, 1707 ; McClean- ;
BMC 36 ; cf. SNG.Keckman 463 ; SNG.von Aulock - ; HGC 6, no.1435
attractive specimen with beautidul rose
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Didrachm, circa 305-275 BC
weight 6,57gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of Helios facing slightly right, hair loose
rev. Rose with bud on right, thunderbolt and Δ on the left,
POΔION above
BMC 26 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; SNG.von Aulock 2792 ;
SNG.Keckman 477 ; HGC 6, no.1435 ;McClean- ;
SNG.Tübingen- ; Weber collection - ; HNO.380 ;
Waddington 2779 ; SNG Delepierre 2751
attractive specimen of elegant style
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - AR Diobol, circa 275-250 BC
weight 0,85gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.
obv. Radiate head of Helios right
rev. Two rosebuds between P - O, fish-hook above
Helios is the god and personification of the Sun in ancient Greek religion and myth, often depicted in art with a radiant crown and driving a horse-drawn chariot through the sky. He was a guardian of oaths and also the god of sight. Though Helios was a relatively minor deity in Classical Greece, his worship grew more prominent in late antiquity thanks to his identification with several major solar divinities of the Roman period, particularly Apollo and Sol. The Roman Emperor Julian made Helios the central divinity of his short-lived revival of traditional Roman religious practices in the 4th century AD. Helios figures prominently in several works of Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, in which he is often described as the son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia and brother of the goddesses Selene (the Moon) and Eos (the Dawn).
The Dorians also seem to have revered Helios, and to have hosted his primary cult on the mainland. The scattering of cults of the sun god in Sicyon, Argos, Hermione, Epidaurus and Laconia, and his holy livestock flocks at Taenarum, seem to suggest that the deity was considerably important in Dorian religion, compared to other parts of ancient Greece. Additionally, it may have been the Dorians who brought his worship to Rhodes. The island of Rhodes was an important cult center for Helios, one of the only places where he was worshipped as a major deity in ancient Greece. Annual gymnastic tournaments were held in Helios′ honor. The Colossus of Rhodes was dedicated to him. The Rhodians called shrine of Helios, Haleion Athenaeus also mentions that the Rhodians celebrated a festival, the Halieia, in his honour.
BMC- (cf.42) ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf.743) ; SNG.von Aulock 2819 ;
McClean- (cf.8574) ; Weber collection- (cf.6723) ; SNG.Delepierre- (cf.2759) ;
SNG.Tübingen 3583 ; SNG.Keckman - (cf. 511-529) ; cf. HGC 6, 1450 ;
Sear- (cf.5045) RR
Attractive tone and lovely style. Very rare.
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - EUKRAGES, magistrate - AR Tetradrachm, circa 230-205 BC
weight 13,61gr. ; silver Ø 26mm.
obv. Radiate head of Helios three-quarter face to right
rev. Rose with bud to right and thunderbol to left, POΔION above,
EYKPA - ΓHΣ across lower field, within border of dots
On the reverse were clearly can read the magistrate′s name Ekrages. Normally were see the magistate′s name Eukrates combined with the symbol thunderbolt. We have centainly not mis-read the T for a Γ, it is clearly a Γ. Now there are two possibilities; a new unlisted magistrate with the name Eukrages or a mistake of the die-cutter. As the thunderbolt is the symbol for Eukrates. We think the second option is the most likely one. Unpublished and extremely rare as such.
Minor flan failures (original porosity / metal flaws in the planchet) on the obverse,
but nearly as struck with original lustre. Exceptional quality for a Rhodian tetradrachm.
BMC- (cf. 124 = Eukra- tes in lower field) ; SNG.von Aulock- ;
SNG.Copenhagen- (cf. 754 = Eukrat - es in lower field) ; Weber collection- ;
SNG.Keckman- (cf. 547 = Eukra- tes in lower field) ;
McClean- (cf. 8581 = Eukrates above rose) ; Jameson collection- ;
MacDonald page 439, no.15var. (= Eukra - tes in lower field) ;
SNG.Tübingen- ; SNG.Delepierre- (cf. 2763 = Eukrates above rose) RRR
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CARIAN ISLANDS, RHODOS - NIKEPHOROS, magistrate - AR Drachm, circa 88-84 BC
weight 2,09gr. ; silver Ø 15mm.
obv. Radiate head of Helios right
rev. Rose, P – O in lower left and right corner, NIKHΦOPOΣ above,
hand holding corn-ear in lower left field, all within incuse square
A so called plinthophoric drachm. The plinthophoric series runs from circa 190 BC to 84 BC, and represents a complete overhaul of the monetary system, in which the traditional Rhodian standard was abandoned in favor of a new standard based on a ′plinthophoric′ drachm, which was more commensurate with other currencies of the time. Another innovation was the abandonment of all denominations higher than a drachm, and a proliferation of regular issues of hemidrachms and diobols. Initially it weighed around 3 grams, but at the end of the emission it was barely 2 grams. The reverse design was placed into a shallow incuse square, which is where the name of the series is derived (plinthos = brick or ingot). The exact reason for this major reorganization of Rhodian coinage is not known for certain, but the prevalent theory is that it was undertaken to conform to the changes extant under the terms of the Peace of Apameia in 188 BC. Whatever the reason, this change was enduring, with the series lasting nearly 100 years. The plinthophoric coinage came to an end during the First Mithridatic War, during which the Roman survivors of the Vespers of 88 BC fled to Rhodes, which was subsequently besieged by the Pontic king. The siege lasted for six months, during which time the silver supply had dwindled to such low quantities that the coinage was supplanted by issues of large-denomination bronzes.
BMC 276 ; SNG.Copenhagen 824 ; SNG.von Aulock- ; McClean- ;
Weber collection- ; SNG.Delepierre- ; SNG.Tübingen- ; cf. Sear 5063 ;
SNG.Keckman 676 ; Jenkins 249 ; HGC 6, 1461 R
minor flan crack
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