Rhodos, Rhodes. Silver Didrachm (6.65 g, 19 mm). ca. 230-205 BC. Eukrates, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right. Reverse: POΔION, rose with bud to right; anchor in left field, EYKPATHΣ across fields. Ashton 220; SNG Keckman 549; SNG Cop. 760; HGC 6, 1440. Boldly struck in high relief and of Fine stye. Beautiful old cabinet toning.
The polis of Rhodes 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.
