Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Islands off Caria, Rhodes.
Stater circa 125–90, AV 8.44 g. Radiate head of Helios facing, slightly r. Rev. P – O Rose with bud on r., in l. field, barley ear, above, ANTAIOY. All in shallow incuse square. Jenkins, KME, p. 111 and pl. xxxiv, 203 (this coin). cf. T. Hackens, Trésor hellénistique trouvé à Delos, in BCH 89 (1965), p. 525, 5–6.
Of the highest rarity, only very few specimens known. An important and fascinating issue
with an interesting facing portrait of late Hellenistic style. Struck in high relief,
minor marks in field and on edge, otherwise good very fine
Ex M&M 53, 1977, 116; Leu 30, 1982, 186; Sotheby 19-20 June 1991, Bunker Hunt, 403 and Manhattan II, 2011, 66sales. From the Peter Guber collection.
This extremely rare Rhodian gold stater belongs to a distinctive coin series struck at Rhodes in the late second and early first centuries BC, known as plinthophoroi or "brick-bearers." The coinage received this nickname from the use of a reverse type set within an incuse square. Incuse square reverses in the late Hellenistic period were very much of an archaism since most Greek cities had abandoned the use of incuse square reverse types in the late fifth and early fourth centuries BC. The plinthophoric series was inaugurated to reduce the weight standard used for Rhodian silver coins which would improve their exchangeability against other reduced-weight coinages of the late Hellenistic period. The incuse square reverse made such coins instantly distinguishable from earlier issues on the full Rhodian weight standard. However, because gold coinages-including the present stater-were usually struck to the internationally-recognized Attic standard in the Hellenistic period, here the incuse reverse design only serves to associate the Rhodian stater with the larger plinthophoric series. In contrast with the main plinthophoric series, which regularly featured a profile head of Helios on the obverse, the stater depicts a facing head of the sun-god, the usual type for earlier full-weight didrachms of Rhodes.
Stater circa 125–90, AV 8.44 g. Radiate head of Helios facing, slightly r. Rev. P – O Rose with bud on r., in l. field, barley ear, above, ANTAIOY. All in shallow incuse square. Jenkins, KME, p. 111 and pl. xxxiv, 203 (this coin). cf. T. Hackens, Trésor hellénistique trouvé à Delos, in BCH 89 (1965), p. 525, 5–6.
Of the highest rarity, only very few specimens known. An important and fascinating issue
with an interesting facing portrait of late Hellenistic style. Struck in high relief,
minor marks in field and on edge, otherwise good very fine
Ex M&M 53, 1977, 116; Leu 30, 1982, 186; Sotheby 19-20 June 1991, Bunker Hunt, 403 and Manhattan II, 2011, 66sales. From the Peter Guber collection.
This extremely rare Rhodian gold stater belongs to a distinctive coin series struck at Rhodes in the late second and early first centuries BC, known as plinthophoroi or "brick-bearers." The coinage received this nickname from the use of a reverse type set within an incuse square. Incuse square reverses in the late Hellenistic period were very much of an archaism since most Greek cities had abandoned the use of incuse square reverse types in the late fifth and early fourth centuries BC. The plinthophoric series was inaugurated to reduce the weight standard used for Rhodian silver coins which would improve their exchangeability against other reduced-weight coinages of the late Hellenistic period. The incuse square reverse made such coins instantly distinguishable from earlier issues on the full Rhodian weight standard. However, because gold coinages-including the present stater-were usually struck to the internationally-recognized Attic standard in the Hellenistic period, here the incuse reverse design only serves to associate the Rhodian stater with the larger plinthophoric series. In contrast with the main plinthophoric series, which regularly featured a profile head of Helios on the obverse, the stater depicts a facing head of the sun-god, the usual type for earlier full-weight didrachms of Rhodes.