Lot 3433

Description

Macedon, Perseus, (179-168 B.C.), silver drachm (2.574 grams), Third Macedonian War issue, mint on Samothrace, Gorgos, magistrate. Struck circa 171/0, obv. head of Helios facing slightly right, rev. Rose with bud to right, **GORGOS* above; to left, torch, P O flanking stem. (S.-, R. Ashton. "Clubs, Thunderbolts, Torches, Stars and Caducei: more Pseudo-Rhodian Drachms from Mainland Greece and the Islands" in NC 2002 (p.73-4), SNG Cop.-; BMC 171-172 [Rhodes]). Toned, extremely fine and scarce, lot includes collector ticket.

R. Ashton recently reattributed the Gorgos issues (including torch symbol issues) from Thessaly to Samothrace (see reference R. Ashton, above pp. 73-77). Ashton has argued persuasively that this coinage was struck by Perseus to pay Cretan mercenaries serving in his army. The Rhodian coinage circulated on Crete, and thus was a familiar and trusted currency for the Cretans, and it is likely that they would have required payment in that form (see also NC 1988, pp.29-30), and SM 146 (May 1987), p.34).