Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 125-88 BC. AV Hemistater (14mm, 4.07 g, 12h). Attic standard. Diognetos, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose in profile, with bud to left; ΔIOΓNHTOΣ above, P-O flanking, cornucopia to lower right; all within incuse square. Jenkins, Rhodian –; cf. Hackens 16–7 (different magistrate; same obv. die); HN Online –; HGC 6, 1414; Ward 718 (same; same obv. die). Minor hairlines. Good VF. Apparently unique with cornucopia.
The rare late gold coinage of Rhodes falls into the so-called plinthophoric coinage of the city, from the term plinthos, or 'brick,' a reference to the shallow incuse square on the reverse. The use of a reverse incuse, a kind of antiquarian throwback, is a feature of the coinage of Rhodes commencing in circa 173 BC and ending about 88 BC. Nearly all of the coinage of this era were silver drachms and fractions thereof; however, a very limited series of gold coins on a range of denominations from staters down to quarter-staters commenced about 125 BC. The reasons for such an elaborate gold issue are unclear, but may be a response to a silver shortage or other economic crisis; alternatively it may reflect Rhodes' new role as one of Rome's chief allies and financial arbiter in the east as the Roman Republic was beginning to acquire provinces in Asia Minor.
The rare late gold coinage of Rhodes falls into the so-called plinthophoric coinage of the city, from the term plinthos, or 'brick,' a reference to the shallow incuse square on the reverse. The use of a reverse incuse, a kind of antiquarian throwback, is a feature of the coinage of Rhodes commencing in circa 173 BC and ending about 88 BC. Nearly all of the coinage of this era were silver drachms and fractions thereof; however, a very limited series of gold coins on a range of denominations from staters down to quarter-staters commenced about 125 BC. The reasons for such an elaborate gold issue are unclear, but may be a response to a silver shortage or other economic crisis; alternatively it may reflect Rhodes' new role as one of Rome's chief allies and financial arbiter in the east as the Roman Republic was beginning to acquire provinces in Asia Minor.