Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 65 19 Dec 2019
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Islands off Karia, Karpathos AR Stater. 'Poseidion' mint, circa 500-490 BC. Two dolphins, the upper leaping to left and the lower leaping to right, a third small dolphin to right below; floral symbols in the corners, all within a dotted square border / Two parallel rectangular incuses with irregular striations. Cahn, Poseidion, pp. 11–2; HGC 6, 1350; SNG von Aulock 2743 var. (orientation of dolphins); SNG Keckman 283 var. (legend on obv.); Asyut 689–91; Boston MFA 2010 = Warren 1181; Jameson 1542; Roma E-Live 4, 318 (same dies). 13.74g, 19mm.
Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
The dating of the issue is confirmed to be no earlier than 500-480 by the presence of four clearly unworn dolphin types in the Asyut find, 689-692. In a well considered article, 'Poseidion on Karpathos' NC 1957 pp. 11-12, H. Cahn put seriously in doubt the traditional attribution of these coins by Imhoof-Blumer (ZfN I, pl. 3, 20) to Poseidion on the island of Karpathos that was based on the presence of the Ionic legend ΠΟΣ on some of the coins. Karpathos was of Dorian foundation from Argos, and the well attested name for the town was Potidaion, which would have been abbreviated as ΠΟΤ. Potidaion only later came to be known as Poseidion under Roman rule. Thus, this 'Pos' legend is irreconcilable with the city's ethnikon. Since the legend 'Pos' is a later addition engraved on earlier anepigraphic dies there is no reason to suppose that it must be the ethnic of a polis, and it may simply be that of an issuing authority. The 'Poseidion' coins, struck to a Milesian weight standard, were suggested by Cahn to be from an unidentified mint on the Karian coast, or on an island somewhere between Rhodos and Samos. However, the significant similarities in both design elements and fabric to the early coinage of the Rhodian cities Lindos and Kamiros cannot be ignored, and indeed Karparthos' proximity to the island of Rhodos means that it cannot be dismissed as the production site for these coins.
Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
The dating of the issue is confirmed to be no earlier than 500-480 by the presence of four clearly unworn dolphin types in the Asyut find, 689-692. In a well considered article, 'Poseidion on Karpathos' NC 1957 pp. 11-12, H. Cahn put seriously in doubt the traditional attribution of these coins by Imhoof-Blumer (ZfN I, pl. 3, 20) to Poseidion on the island of Karpathos that was based on the presence of the Ionic legend ΠΟΣ on some of the coins. Karpathos was of Dorian foundation from Argos, and the well attested name for the town was Potidaion, which would have been abbreviated as ΠΟΤ. Potidaion only later came to be known as Poseidion under Roman rule. Thus, this 'Pos' legend is irreconcilable with the city's ethnikon. Since the legend 'Pos' is a later addition engraved on earlier anepigraphic dies there is no reason to suppose that it must be the ethnic of a polis, and it may simply be that of an issuing authority. The 'Poseidion' coins, struck to a Milesian weight standard, were suggested by Cahn to be from an unidentified mint on the Karian coast, or on an island somewhere between Rhodos and Samos. However, the significant similarities in both design elements and fabric to the early coinage of the Rhodian cities Lindos and Kamiros cannot be ignored, and indeed Karparthos' proximity to the island of Rhodos means that it cannot be dismissed as the production site for these coins.